Veteran Northwest painter MELINDA THORSNES, long known for her highly saturated figurative oils and intriguing narrative sub-plots, exhibits "Freehand", a collection of new paintings which reflect her desire to "open the floodgates" and paint what moves her. The works are characterized by intense color and are broadly brushed works of Americans relaxing at home or outdoors. Thorsnes has been exhibiting in a wide variety of venues for 35 years, including a 10 year stint at the Froelick Gallery and is currently being represented by the Michael Parsons Fine Arts gallery.
Regarding her background and influences on her work, Thorsnes has written: "I came from a nomadic family whose territory ran the West Coast, from Elsinore, California to the Seattle area. After I was born, our small faction stayed pretty much around the Portland area. When my grandmother died in 1971, I inherited the family photo albums and set about painting reconstructions of events that I was, in some cases, too young to remember. My Uncle Todd was once the proud (and somewhat successful) purveyor of 'Todd's Famous Waffles.' My father, his other brother, and their cousins sold cars, worked the carnie circuit up and down the coast in the summer, and once were arrested for 'rum running' in Puget Sound. They were a quick-witted, fleet -footed and colorful bunch, and I am proud to have inherited some of those traits. Through the years, my work has expanded from family matters to personal and political issues and back again-a Journey for a sense of place and for recording the region's people and events that have and do affect my life."
See Melinda's full resume in PDF format here.