Clare Rosean
My drawings are maps of invented places and people, depicting the everyday yet improbable scenarios that might happen to pass in our lives. The intent of my art is to be lighthearted and humorous; I use drawing and painting as a means by which I can plot the absurdities of human folly and crisis from an outside perspective. I often focus on the individual in the crowd or versus the crowd, as perceived by a spectator who has no particular point of reference. Most of my work employs a concept of space particular to Indian miniature painting, Chinese landscapes of the Southern Song Dynasty, and a good deal of Dr. Seuss illustrations, whereby multiple perspectives are juxtaposed against one another, eliminating hierarchy and leveling all events on an equal plane. Distance is for the most part distorted, yet not entirely discarded.
I want my art to be entertaining, for lack of a better phrase- fun to look at. At the same time it needs to have thought. I believe that by paying each portion of the drawing equal attention, it can be more thoroughly enjoyed by the viewer. The creation of meaningful yet appealing visual imagery is extremely important to me, as is its availability to the public. Art needs to be accessible to the public to cheer them up, or to inspire them. Every piece I create is part of a larger series that describes a narrative, or revolves around a specific theme. The narrative in turn, reflects the absurdities of the everyday. I hope to have each series published in the form of a picture book upon completion, thereby making my art obtainable to a wider audience. The pieces are meant to be read as maps- within a larger narrative, but also on their own; not only of space, but of the individual and his place in the bigger picture.
Clare Rosean was born 1988 and is a native of the Chicago area. She has been drawing and painting her whole life and is currently enrolled at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Clare’s emphasis is in drawing and painting, which she will continue in her final year at the Art Institute this fall. She aspires to make her art into picture books in the near future.
