Teresa Mrozicka’s oil-painting exhibition Blue invited viewers to interpret earthly subject matter portrayed through vibrant colours and pointillism styles.
The Poland-born artist studied graphic arts at George Brown College in Toronto, graduating in 1994, before moving to Kingston shortly after.
Mrozicka’s exhibition, held at Studio22 Open Gallery on 320 King St. East, consists of vibrant oil on canvas paintings exemplifying semi-abstract and pointillist styles. Pointillism uses a dot pattern to create the composition of an image. Mrozicka applies individual bits of protruding paint overtop a gradient underpainting to create a three-dimensional effect.
“The paintings look like they have little jewels applied all over the surface, and have rich, tactile quality with rhythm and symmetry,” Mrozicka told the Journalvia e-mail.
Combining this use of texturing with her use of primary colours, Mrozicka’s paintings seem to change colour depending on the effects created by different kinds of lighting.
Mrozicka uses pointillism concurrently with impressionistic styles. The backgrounds of her paintings often suggest subject matter of forest, sunset or sky, without painting anything clearly.
It has taken her a decade to perfect her pointillist techniques.
“The ultimate goal I wish to accomplish, mastering my technique is to be able to captivate the energy of an inner glow in each individual painting and find its unique pulse,” she said.
Mrozicka’s paintings often depict variations of earthly elements, but have recently adopted the subject matter of the nude female figure.
“[The female] landscape-like body manifests the tendency to intertwine with earthy elemental forces that I have been working with for over a decade,” she said.
Mrozicka’s hope is to capture and evoke thought about the treatment of our planet through the subjects of her paintings.
“I have been contemplating on the balance that needs to be restored to our planet’s wellbeing,” she said.
The artist’s exhibition was part of Kingston’s Art After Dark event in September, in which 450 people attended to view her work.
Mrozicka intends for her lively colours, texture and subjects to draw in the audience’s attention and to be interpreted subjectively.
“The intuitive approach I have in my painting practice invites the viewers to tune into their own intuition and connect with the paintings on a personal level,” she said.
She hopes her work will inspire viewers to channel their own sense of creativity.
“I am working towards contributing to the idea of awakening the public to their own creative energy,” Mrozicka said.
The artist never explicitly explains the meaning of her unique paintings, as she said she prefers to leave audiences in a sense of wonder and self-conclusion.
“I like not knowing certain things, I like wondering about it,” said Studio22 owner Hersh Jacob.
“She leaves me with that. I don’t understand some of her paintings, but I’m not worried about not understanding. I think that that’s a nice thing.”
Mrozicka’s artistic techniques have allowed her to develop a distinct signature style that doesn’t go unnoticed by viewers.
“I’ve watched Teresa’s work for about eight years, and I just see a refinement of technique and assurance in the art and a real individual eye,” Jacob said.
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