Brenda Hope Zappitell

My paintings emerge from the emotion I feel in the moment my brush touches a blank surface. I am a very physical and spontaneous painter. Moving back and forth with decisive brush strokes and dynamic gestures, I work rapidly to capture that ephemeral feeling in tangible form.

I begin without expectations and work on a subconscious level that disregards logic. Guided by a primal inner voice, I surrender control to the paint, the brush and a visceral process of creative discovery. I apply many layers to my paintings, leaving evidence of early marks as well, as a sense of my progression.

I observe everything in my life in great detail and am heavily influenced by nature, in particular the sky. My mark-making, though serendipitous, reflects these influences. I want the viewer to believe that my vision expands beyond the work itself to a universe I have created.

Painting in the genre of Abstract Expressionism, I feel a strong affinity for artists such as Joan Mitchell and Willem De Kooning, whose work also emphasizes action and emotion over ideas. I sign my paintings “Hope,” not only because this is my middle name, but because this emotion truly inspires me.