Randee Silv has quite an extensive background in art that includes a college degree in Art Therapy (from one of the first programs that offered it), glass blowing, clay and fiber arts. She lived for several years in Portugal before returning to the United States a few years ago. She eventually started showing and selling some of her work on the streets of New York which she describes as a wonderful experience for meeting other artists (Denise Gale, our Artist Profile for last month suggested Silv contact Abstract Art Online after seeing her paintings), collectors and anyone generally interested in the visual arts. Her outlook refreshingly cuts across the grain of what artists are generally expected to do regarding their careers by placing the primary emphasis on the art.

The first thing to hit you about Randee Silv’s paintings is their playful quality. They possess a wonderful child-like quality that draws you in for a closer look and a whole lot more. On a large scale Silv presents a sort of doodling stream of consciousness and uninhibited freedom of expression that nevertheless is solidly composed. In this regard these paintings recall the work of artists such as Klee, Twombly and even Picasso (especially for the two Gnawa pieces). But the parallels are best understood as referencing the visual energy of these artists rather than imitating them because Silv’s work clearly bears her own individual style. The key thing is that Silv is not focused on working toward a specific goal but instead lets the work free to go where it will.

Gnawa, 1998, oil stick on canvas, 43 x 39 in

The next thing you notice is the rather somber palette these pieces employ. This offers an interesting counterweight to the whimsical forms. Part of this is rooted in practicality. Silv works exclusively with oil sticks, big oil sticks, given the dimensions of the work, which can place restrictions on color choices. The interesting thing is how she is able to not only work within the restrictions but even to take advantage of