Renee Lai
Near and Far, 2020, oil paint on canvas, 48x60"
Describe your artistic style in three words.
minimal, elegant, sensing
What's inspiring you right now?
My garden is inspiring me at the moment. It fascinates me to watch the cycle of life, death, and rebirth which plays out every year (especially so this year with the crazy weather) in my backyard. I have had more time at home to work in it and to watch things slowly come alive. The rhythm of growth moves so differently-- slow and steady and sometimes sudden profusions overnight. It reminds me of my own studio rhythms.
What do you do when you're feeling uninspired?
When I am feeling uninspired, I like to go for a walk alone or go for a swim. It always clears my head and the interruption visually from my work space helps me refocus. I also like to write, which can help bottled up thoughts emerge, and read.
Tell us something unique about your process.
I work a lot with repetition, and when making somewhat repetitive marks the feel of the surface is so important to me. I like to go slowly while drawing my lines so I can be attuned to the scrape of whatever surface I am working on. I also like to roll around and touch my entire surface, especially if it is a canvas, after I have finished prepping it before I start. I think it gives me a feel for the overall space.
What advice do you have for other artists?
My advice is to take a lot of walks! You never know when you might see something interesting.
Suburbia 1, 2019, oil paint, oil stick, and graphite on canvas, 61x51.5"
Barrier XI, 2020, oil paint on canvas, 72x48"
Bamboo, Night, 2020, oil paint and ink on canvas, 40x60"
Barrier VII, 2020, ink, graphite, and thread on canvas, 56.5x65.5"
Barrier VIII, 2020, graphite, ink, and oil paint on canvas, 53x64.5"
Bamboo, Moonlight, 2020, oil paint on canvas, 37x24"
Renee Lai works in painting and drawing. Lai graduated with her MFA in Studio Art from the University of Texas at Austin in 2020. She holds an undergraduate degree in English and Studio Art with honors from Dartmouth College, and she also studied painting at the New York Studio School.