Grace Doyle

About the Artist

Doyle spent her early years learning from her father and graduated from the Baltimore School for the Arts and the Maryland Institute College of Art. Throughout her education she has spent time painting abroad in France, Italy, and Norway. She is currently an MFA candidate at Towson University.

Artist's Statement

I practice the art of observation. Painting is a way I process ideas, break down what I see, and build it back up in a way that allows me to explore and study what is in front of me. I have worked and continue to work in oil. I paint representationally and realistically, meaning, I observe and paint what I see. I take liberties where it makes sense for the painting, such as exaggerating something for perspective, balance, or to push a certain color or color relationship. My subjects are predominantly people, animals, and places I know that have meaning to me. People and animals are compelling, living things that convey emotion and time. With these, I create psychologically intriguing compositions that reflect my interests and that lack a direct narrative. The viewer can bring their unique experiences and ideas to the work, translating them and pausing in self-reflection within the quiet spaces. My past and most recent work has focused on reality and environments that exist in believable time and space. I compose the subjects by working from life or photo references. For upcoming work, I have ideas to involve more of my personal interests and influence from the personalities I paint. Through my painting practice, I want to explore the things I care about. I want to infuse my paintings with my interests in science fiction and fantasy. Compositions will involve my personal fascination with mythology, space, superheroes, and psychology. Because these involve elements of fantasy and imagination, I will need to piece components together. In doing so, it is important to me for these paintings to have cohesion and resolution in the final environment.