culture
SERENE SCENES
Cyndy Carstens captures the beauty of nature in her paintings BY NICOLE ROYSE
P
ainter Cyndy Carstens uses vibrant colors and intriguing compositions to lend a fresh perspective to landscapes and skies, including those of the Southwest. Whether it’s a fiery sky or a striking panorama of the Southwest, she aims to “construct visual realities and bring to the forefront an awareness of our endangered humanity and the vulnerabilities of our environment.” Her paintings evoke a sense of light and serenity while exploring space and time. Moreover, they offer insight into the sublime nature existing beyond the city, yet Carstens’ use of color is more subjective and expressive of the artist’s relationship with nature. Carstens works in a variety of mediums, including oil, graphite, acrylic, watercolor and mixed media. Geometric shapes are prominent throughout her artwork, resulting in a fascinating composition. “The geometric shapes represent the parts in our memories and experiences which contribute to our individual
personalities,” Carstens says. “My paintings focus on and reflect the portrayal of awareness in wide expanses of the sky and the details of nature.” Her work is influenced by the Hudson River School and 20th-century Southwest artists, while she examines the beauty and nature’s power to capture a fleeting moment and magnify that moment’s emotional impact. Utilizing a wide spectrum of colors blending realism and abstraction, Carstens works are meditative masterpieces. Through her paintings, Carstens invites the viewer to explore nature while
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reflecting on our transient existence and place within the larger scope of the earth, the universe and beyond. This is evident throughout her work, and recently she debuted a breathtaking, eight-panel painting titled Color of Light, which depicts an abstracted, expansive skyline. Carstens’ work has been featured in many publications and has been recognized with numerous awards. Her paintings can be found in private collections across America, Canada, Europe and Australia, and she has exhibited her artwork extensively throughout the country. In addition to creating and selling artwork – a portion of which she donates to support local charities – she also exhibits other local artists throughout the year within her intimate gallery, Carstens Fine Art Studio & Gallery, located in the Scottsdale Art District. The gallery and studio are open daily, and the exhibition may be viewed during business hours. For more information about Carstens visit www.cyndycarstens.com.
| SEPTEMBER 2016
8/24/16 8:29 AM