Wanting to feature a TW9 artist in my next blog post, I was cruising through some of the portfolios here on The Whole 9, when I stumbled upon the remarkable work of Serena Potter.

"Down Again" 2010

Aside from being technically stunning, Serena’s oil paintings are dark, graceful, and radiate a certain eloquent suffering and unmistakable inner struggle, that left me in awe and curious to know more.

“I paint figurative and still life paintings that address themes, of private pain vs. public persona, fight and submission, gravity, loss of identity, time, and sleep. I work in oil on panel or canvas.”

"Submission" 2010

Reading further, it comes as no surprise that her current thesis is a response to a personal struggle.

Serena continues, “It is my intent that the viewer be able to view my paintings without an overt understanding of my personal narrative, but rather, through their sense of the drama, bring their own interpretations to, and derive their own stories from, my paintings.”

"Without a Noise"

Serena Potter earned her BFA in 1991 at the Univeristy of Utah, and an MFA in 2011 at the Laguna College of Art and Design.

Her MFA Thesis will be on display at Arena 1 Gallery in Santa Monica  www.santamonicaartstudios.com), June 18 – July 3.

For more work and information on Serena Potter, visit www.serenapotter.com

And to add her to your Creative Circle, visit www.thewhole9.com/serenapotter/