Joan TemplerClick on any picture to enlarge it ... Joan Templer draws from her subconscious mind for subject matter when painting her abstracts. She does not purposely set out to paint anything specific. As the painting develops, she gets a clearer picture of the context. Then she will enhance it together with her concentration on the esthetics of what she is doing. The influences in her work come from natural phenomena, from her life experiences in Africa and America. Web Design by CompuSol © 2003 www.compusol.org |
Gallery NOONTIDE. Looking out across the water, as I do, I often step out onto the dock and bask in the beauty around me; the sun shimmering and reflecting on the water, the movement of the tide, all contrasting to the worn, gnarled textures of the wooden dock itself. The painting is done in acrylic on a wooden panel measuring 48" x 36".
ENSIGN. This painting is highly textured, reminding me of a quilt with a lot of little squares of different colors and meaning, pieced together. I also observe boats passing by my window with different ensigns denoting their affiliations and meaning, and yet are concerned with the sea. The painting is 48" x 36" on wood. The technique is one of my favorites, built up with modeling paste with an under painting of acrylic and oil glazes.
FALLING WATER has the same name as Frank Lloyd Wright's famous house. I always think of the architect's much quoted reply when the owner called to complain that water was coming in through the floor and the roof and that the only dry place in the house was the fireplace. "Well sit in the fireplace" said Wright. The painting has some architectural references but the concentration is on the rippling and flowing effect of water. The painting is 36" x 24" on wood built up with modeling paste with acrylic over paint and touches of oil color.
RED ENSIGN. The dictionary definition of an ensign is a national flag, a badge, a sign or a token. My painting is all of these. The upper section is more complete, hinting at the national flag in the top left hand corner, but as the composition moves down it becomes more fragmented and less whole. I perceive all present reality changes in time, becoming less distinct and eventually merging into the one infinite whole. The painting is on canvas measuring 72" x 36" done in acrylic and oil.
BUILDING SPEC. I have been involved with architecture all my life. My husband is an architect and he and I taught in a college of Architecture for twenty years. Sections through buildings, and rectangular plans of rooms come naturally to me as source material for abstract reconstructions. The painting measures 24" x 36" on wood with modeling paste overlaid with acrylic. |
Biography Joan Templer achieved considerable recognition in South Africa — her native land. She won the prestigious Oppenheimer painting award as well as a commission to create a large vitreous enamel mural for the new international airport in Johannesburg. Moving to New York ... In the late `60s Joan and her family, John and their daughters Nicolette and Theresa, went to New York to study at Columbia University. The cultural shock of New York during the Vietnam era reflected clearly in Joan's painting compared to the exotic textures and forms she had painted in Africa. Moving to Atlanta ... After John completed his doctorate in Architecture, the family moved to Atlanta where Joan won the Atlanta mural competition. John and Joan both became professors at the College of Architecture at Georgia Tech. Joan was require to demonstrate national recognition (a hard task to achieve) in order to get tenure. She did so by winning many awards at art shows throughout the country, and getting glowing reviews from the critics at her New York exhibitions. She loved every minute of her teaching; experimenting continually, finding new ways for the students to express their ideas.
Moving to Beaufort ... The Templers taught at Georgia Tech for over twenty years. They picked Beaufort to retire to and have been delighted with their choice ever since. Living on the water, the ever changing light and beauty of the area have influenced Joan's paintings again. She has returned to the large textured abstracts she made in Africa but with the added technical interest and wealth of experience she had gathered from the challenge of teaching at Georgia Tech. The painting on the right is her abstract reconstruction of the rivulets in the sand and the reflections in the shallow marsh pools at low tide. She has been very involved in the Beaufort Art Association and its achievement in setting up the beautiful gallery on Port Republic Street. Her work can be seen in the Beaufort Art Association Gallery, the Charles Street Gallery, and at her in town home at 114 Verdier Road. Call her at (843)524-0452, or email jontempler@earthlink.net.
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