My abstract landscapes are a meditation on the connection between inner and outer worlds. I am inspired by the notion that the processes unfolding in nature are the same as those inside us (the microcosm and the macrocosm). I begin a new piece by drawing, then combine graphite, charcoal, and pastels with collaging papers and paint. The variety of materials allows a feeling of freedom to let the painting evolve. I challenge myself to mirror the active processes of the world using the play of color, light and layering. Layering opens a space in the painting for movement. Colors vibrate, and contrasting line qualities bring a sense of form. In order to have human meaning, nature requires a "viewer." I think of my paintings in the same way. They are landscapes that require a viewer to complete their meaning.
Clevenger was raised in northern New Mexico and received her B.F.A. in 1994 from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Her paintings are exhibited nationally, and are included in numerous private collections.
