Artist Statement ~ Paintings
Painting is about being in the moment, connecting to spirit. It is my passion and a reflection of my inner being.
The trees represent the very nature of life itself - a symbol of wisdom, growth, strength, renewal and reaching higher, toward the heavens.
The mountains represent a quiet meditative place deep inside. 'Going to the mountain' means setting aside some time to be alone in the presence of God.
The women represent the nurturing aspect of the planet. Evolving from a place that is sacred, each woman has a story to tell and a spirit to share.
The cowboys (painted from my black and white photographs) represent an energy, a passion for chosen work, a way of life in this country.
The cats - because I love them and they bring me joy!
Best known for her oil painted photography, Padgett shifted focus in 2007.
Realizing a need to find a way to expose the paintings that are floating around in the back of my mind, I began developing new skills that would allow this to happen. Having worked with oil paint for many years, it was a natural evolution to extend my oil painting techniques to a blank canvas (masonite panels).
Freeing myself from my intimidation towards a blank canvas, it was time "to get uncomfortable". In my discomfort of growing, I have found a new and powerful way of seeing.
My new oil paintings are an expression from my heart and my imagination.
Photography was my way of discovering, exploring and relating to the world. Using my camera to capture illusions of reality on film by utilizing the raw purity of black and white photography is intrinsic to the work. I explore ideas using different photographic techniques (infrared film, unusual angles, close-ups and self portraits). Enriching the photographs with my hand painting techniques allows me to amplify the mystique and intrigue of a particular scene, enhancing the emotional and spiritual content of the image with the paint.
My original black & white photographs are developed in my traditional “wet” darkroom. They are all full-frame silver gelatin prints with oil paint, watercolor dye and/or crayon applied directly to the surface. The majority of pieces are available in small limited editions, each unique because each has been individually printed and painted.
I continue to experiment with heavy paint application using techniques acquired through the teachings of Holly Roberts. These pieces are also painted with oil, using brushes and linseed oil as a medium. Most are done on self portraits, resulting in a cathartic experience as they evolve and create themselves during the painting process. Each is one of a kind.
I began studying photography after earning a BA in Psychology at UC Irvine. Immediately enthralled by the darkroom process, I began working extensively with the black and white medium and continue to use traditional photographic processes. When I began to focus my efforts on hand coloring, I found that this century-old technique supplied my work with a surreal edge.
Employment as a professional retoucher in San Francisco, working as an intern at The Museum of Photographic Arts in San Diego and participating in various workshops, have contributed to my art. My work has been exhibited in galleries and has received numerous awards. In 1995, I began touring on the art festival circuit. The opportunity to teach photography at a private high school in Albuquerque took me to New Mexico in the fall of 1996. After 3 intense, rewarding years of teaching, my desire to pursue my art full time led me to Colorado in the year 2000.
Resume
Education
University of California, Irvine, CA - BA Psychology 1977
Orange Coast College, Costa Mesa, CA - Studies in Photography 1979 -1981
Palomar College, San Marcos, CA - Advanced Studies in Photography 1981-1983
Museum of Photographic Arts, San Diego, CA - Internship 1983
Workshops
Ken Valastro, Painterly Painting Workshop ~ Art Student League of Denver, CO 2008
Holly Roberts, The Extended Photograph ~ Albuquerque, NM 1997
Holly Roberts, The Hand Painted Photograph ~ San Diego, CA 1995
Keith Carter, Rollin' & Tumblin' : The Photographic Portrait ~ San Diego, CA 1995
Holly Roberts, Painting on Photographs ~ Snowmass, CO 1991
Philipp Scholz Ritterman, Night Light ~ San Diego, CA 1991
Gail Scoff, Hand Coloring ~ San Francisco, CA 1984
A.D. Coleman, Criticism and Appreciation ~ Long Beach, CA 1983
Awards and Achievements
Best of Show, Best of Photography and Business Award, Arkansas Valley Art Center Open Award Show, Buena Vista, CO 2006
1st Place, Arts for All, Lawton, OK 2004
1st Place , Kermezaar, El Paso, TX 2003
1st Place Photography, Commonwheel Artists, Manitou Springs, CO 2002
Featured Artist for Poster, Vail Arts Festival, Vail, CO 2002
Best of Photography, Boulder Creek Festival, Boulder, CO 2002
Best of Show in Category, Crested Butte Festival of the Arts, Crested Butte, CO 2001
Published in Trail Mix Stories of Youth Overcoming Adversity by Danielle Corriveau, Corvo Communications 2001
2nd Place Photography, Scottsdale Arts festival, Scottsdale, AZ 2001
1st Place Fine Art Photography, Castle Rock Art Fest, Castle Rock, CO 2000
Award of Excellence, Boulder Art Fair, Boulder, CO 2000
Honorable Mention, Multiple Images, Boston Mills Artfest, Peninsula, OH 2000
Best of Show, Capitol Hill People's Fair, Denver, CO 2000
1st Place Photography, Boulder Creek Festival, Boulder, CO 2000
3rd Place 2-Dimensional Work, Arts For All, Lawton, OK 2000
1st Place Photography, Evergreen Arts Festival, Evergreen, CO 1999
Best of Show, Main Avenue Arts Festival, Durango, CO 1999
1st Place Photography, Vail Arts Festival, Vail, CO 1999
Award of Excellence (for Artistic Achievement & Presentation), Southwest Arts Festival, Albuquerque, NM 1997
Best of Show (awarded by Boulder Co-op of Artists), Boulder Art Fair, Boulder, CO 1996
1st Place, Honorable Mention, 47th International Exhibition of Photography, Del Mar, CA 1996
2nd Place, Honorable Mention, 46th International Exhibition of Photography, Del Mar, CA 1995
Honorable Mention, Temecula Balloon and Wine Festival, Temecula, CA 1995
Published in Best of Photography, Photographer's Forum Magazine 1991, 92, 94 (Honorable Mention)
Special Award, 5th Place, 6th Place, Honorable Mention, 45th International Exhibition of Photography, Del Mar, CA 1994 2nd Place, 6th Place, Honorable Mention, 44th International Exhibition of Photography, Del Mar, CA 1993
1st Place, 43rd International Exhibition of Photography, Del Mar, CA 1992
40th, 41st, 42nd International Exhibition of Photography, Del Mar, CA 1989, 90, 91
Museum of Photographic Arts 10th Annual Photographic Exhibition 1990
2nd Place, Honorable Mention, City of Oceanside Art Exhibit 1990
San Diego Arts Calendar Cover Photo August 1989
1st Place, San Dieguito Art Guild 1989
Featured artist on weekday television show Inside San Diego November 1989
Gallery Exhibitions
Featured Artist
Flying Dog Gallery, Salida, CO March 2007
Paquette Art Gallery, Steamplant Theater, Salida, CO February 2007
Cool Mountain Art, Salida, CO August 2006
Commonwheel, Manitou Springs, CO 2003
Harpers, Albuquerque, NM 1997
Cafe Artista, Escondido, CA 1994
First Street Gallery, Encinitas, CA 1993
Pannikin, La Jolla and Encinitas, CA 1993
Gallery 21, San Diego, CA 1991
Vincent's Four Seasons, Solana Beach, CA 1991
Golden Pacific Arts, Encinitas, CA 1990
Leucadia Art Gallery, Leucadia, CA 1989
Group Shows
Flying Dog Gallery, Salida, CO 2007-2008
Cool Mountain Art, Salida, CO 2004-2006
Good Hand Arts, online web gallery 2004-2007
Sumner and Dene, Albuquerque, NM 2005-2007
Shiva Artistic Collections, Escondido, CA 2005
Spirit Mountain Log & Antler Design, Salida, CO 2004-2006
North Moon, Ouray, CO 2000-2006
Trios Gallery, Solana Beach, CA 1994-2001
Sumner and Dene, Mission Hills, CA 1994-2005
Brushworks, San Diego, CA 1995-97
Good Books, Carlsbad, CA 1993 - 96
Altar Q, San Diego, CA 1993
Cafe de l' Amitie, San Diego, CA 1992
La Costa Galleries, La Costa, CA 1991-92
Accent's Internat'l, Encinitas, CA
Doreen Berry's Finery, San Diego, CA
Creative Outlets, San Diego, CA
Gallery of Arts, Rancho Santo Fe, CA
Sadler Fine Arts, Cardiff by the Sea, CA
Selection of Fine Art Festivals
Main Street, Fort Worth, TX: 2003
The Great Fair, Fountain Hills, AZ: Fall 1999, Spring 2003
Cottonwood, Richardson, TX: Fall 2002, Fall 2003 Spring 2003, Spring 2004
Castle Rock, CO: 2000, 2001, 2003, 2004
Crested Butte, CO: 2000, 2001, 2002, 2005
Vail Arts Festival, CO: 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2004
Beaver Creek Arts Festival, CO: 1998, 1999, 2002. 2003
Carbondale Mountain Fair, CO: 1999, 2001, 2003, 2004
Durango Arts Festival, CO: 1999, 2004
Evergreen Arts Festival, CO: 1999, 2000
Boulder ArtFair, CO: 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003
Breckenridge Art Festival, CO: 1998
