In this week’s session, we meet Pennsylvania artist Gay Cox. Speaking of her development as an artist, Gay says
When I was 16, I had what I have to call a ‘vision. One evening, I stepped outside and looked to the west and the setting sun. Suddenly, it was as if I could see more than what was evident in the bare facts of mathematics, astronomy, objects, and colors. For a few moments, I could see something vaster, usually invisible, and full of grace. I’ve been trying to paint that, to enable others to see that invisible reality, ever since.
In the early ’80s, after a long break from art, I returned to landscapes and figures, expanding to water-based paints. I graduated from the School of the Museum of Fine Arts (SMFA), Boston (now part of Tufts University School of Art and Sciences) in 1988.
Combining classical training in landscape, portraiture, and figurative art, with vibrant colors and expressionism, I continue to work in existing series, such as Songs, and to develop new series, such as Trees, Seasons, and Gardens. Visible in all of them, is a dedication to transvision – seeing beyond the immediacy of the object to its deeper, wider connection to creation – and enabling the viewer to, at last, behold that transcendent, greater world of grace.
Watch the recording to learn more about Gay’s art and her efforts to reach a broader audience with her work.
You can view the schedule for upcoming sessions and participate in our Critique Group by visiting our Online Critique Page.
Thank you for recording these sessions. I am taking a sculpture class that conflicts with the critique times. I loved the energy and wildness of the garden paintings, the lack of obvious or traditional garden composition was very intriguing and modern in approach. My own work has veered towards gardens and flowers as a fight against the angst and frustration of our times. Something growing means hope for better times in my mind. Your work seems to take the ideas of hope and better times right up to heaven!
Hi Jason & other participants,
Out of curiosity, I was wondering whether any of your participants brought this up? I love Gay’s paintings, great subject matter, very appealing & wonderfully colorful! I can see her work being very popular in your gallery, Jason!
But when I first looked at your online posting of Gay’s flower pix a few days ago!
I wondered if anyone else in your critique, was slightly disturbed by the way the flower heads lining up into 2 definite lines crossing the painting horizontally, one above the other?
But then, “picky me”, I also noticed the strong verticals of the flower stems,…which also bothered me a little bit, because the strong horizontal vs.verticality was a little boring! I really wonder if Gay were to incorporate some strong diagonals & different flower stem lengths, if that would “spice things up” a bit in Gay’s Work?