*A photograph of artist Jeremy Brightbill in studio.*

Jeremy Brightbill has been an abstract painter for years, although some level of representational imagery was present in previous work. Most recently, he is creating densely layered compositions of pure abstraction that almost have the feeling of textiles; the broad, coarse brush marks interwoven almost as strands of fiber might be worked on a loom. We anticipate tactile textures in textile work, and Brightbill’s painted surface is a primitive, elemental exploration of interconnectedness.

Yet, all of that may sound too serious for the artist himself, who emphasizes human experience and self-awareness when discussing his paintings. “My current work explores play and experiment, love and memory, and self-delusion,” explains Brightbill. “We tend to create narratives around our experiences that may or may not be accurate. This fascinates me, and, I believe, comes through in my work.”

"Blood Would Drip From The Honey" by Jeremy Brightbill, 24x24in, acrylic on wood (2016), $400 | BUY NOW — *"Blood Would Drip From The Honey" by Jeremy Brightbill, 24x24in,* *acrylic on wood (2016), $400 | BUY NOW*

Brightbill is a self-educated artist who began making artwork in Charleston, West Virginia, in the mid-nineties. In 1999, he moved to Bloomington, Indiana, where he lived and worked for just over sixteen years. He briefly lived in Annapolis, Maryland, and is currently based in Louisville, Kentucky.

You can find his work displayed in Bloomington, IN at Dimensions Gallery, and he currently has a solo show up at the offices of Sold Sisters Realty in Ripley, WV.

Age: 41
Hometown: Charleston, WV / Bloomington, IN
Education: I worked in museums for 19 years. I did not go to school for art.
Website: www.jeremybrightbill.squarespace.com

"Lost Shoes" by Jeremy Brightbill, 16x20in, acrylic on wood (2016), $200 | BUY NOW — *"Lost Shoes" by Jeremy Brightbill, 16x20in, acrylic on wood (2016), $200 | BUY NOW*

"The Best Path Is The One That I've Taken" by Jeremy Brightbill, 24x24in, acrylic on wood (2016), $400 | BUY NOW — *"The Best Path Is The One That I've Taken" by Jeremy Brightbill, 24x24in,* *acrylic on wood (2016), $400 | BUY NOW*

"Map For The Blind" by Jeremy Brightbill, 24x24in, acrylic on wood (2016), $400 | BUY NOW — *"Map For The Blind" by Jeremy Brightbill, 24x24in,* *acrylic on wood (2016), $400 | BUY NOW*

"Pretty Much The Opposite" by Jeremy Brightbill, 21x28.5 in, acrylic on wood (2016), $425 | BUY NOW — *"Pretty Much The Opposite" by Jeremy Brightbill, 21x28.5 in,* *acrylic on wood (2016), $425 | BUY NOW*

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Painting

Vignette: Teri Dryden

Josh Jenkins · October 14, 2016

"Echo" by Teri Dryden, 40x40in, acrylic on canvas, $2400 | BUY NOW — *"Echo" by Teri Dryden, 40x40in, acrylic on canvas, $2400 | BUY NOW*

A line disintegrates into a smudge, which then blends into a new color, while an opposing stroke swipes across the canvas with ferocity. Teri Dryden works from such an intuitive, emotional creative spark that her paintings can only be seen as Abstract Expressionism, but, as with many such artists, the phrase seems limiting and only useful for academic discussion. The Museum Of Modern Art describes it this way: “The varied work produced by the Abstract Expressionists resists definition as a cohesive style; instead, these artists shared an interest in using abstraction to convey strong emotional or expressive content.”

That explanation certainly would seek to capture Dryden’s own action painting, with vigorous marks and color choices that invite the viewer to read a confluence of emotions applied to the canvas with a modicum of intellectual framework. “Echo” feels sunny and optimistic, full of hope, while “Twist and Shout” explores anxious energy in restricted release.

"Dive In" by Teri Dryden, 36x48in, acrylic on canvas, $2500 | BUY NOW — *"Dive In" by Teri Dryden, 36x48in, acrylic on canvas, $2500 | BUY NOW*

"Arden" by Teri Dryden, 40x40in, acrylic on canvas, $2400 | BUY NOW — *"Arden" by Teri Dryden, 40x40in, acrylic on canvas, $2400 | BUY NOW*

“My artwork is process oriented. I begin each picture with a line. I have no specific outcome in mind. I respond to the changes in the painting as I explore and interact with materials by layering paint and paper, scratching, sanding and marking, creating open spaces, altering and adjusting. I move between intuition and logic, chaos and order. Being aware and open, taking risks with the materials, as well as the struggle itself allows me to have a more meaningful painting experience and often leads to a greater self-awareness. My goal is to create work that is authentic and genuine.”

Dryden is currently part of a group show called "Mix it Up", New Work by Gallery Artists at New Editions Gallery in Lexington, now through October 2016.

Hometown: Annapolis, MD
Age: 58
Education: Towson University
Website: http://www.teridryden.com
Gallery Representative: View Gallery (Jackson, MS); New Editions, (Lexington, KY); B. Deemer (Louisville, KY)

"Sunday Afternoon Promenade" by Teri Dryden, 24x30in, acrylic on canvas, $1400 | BUY NOW — *"Sunday Afternoon Promenade" by Teri Dryden, 24x30in, acrylic on canvas, $1400 | BUY NOW*

"Twist And Shout" by Teri Dryden, 40x40in, acrylic on canvas, $2400 | BUY NOW — *"Twist And Shout" by Teri Dryden, 40x40in, acrylic on canvas, $2400 | BUY NOW*

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annapolis

Vignette: Jeremy Brightbill

Vignette: Teri Dryden