Stefanie Schulte

Navigating between control and surprise, between rational planning and spontaneity, between colour theory and intuition, I explore the idea of emotion and poetry shining through an almost mathematical approach of partitioning the canvas.

My studio is a bit like a laboratory, hosting the long procedures of mixing and testing colours. The mixing in itself, before even placing any brushstrokes, is an intriguing part of the creative process. Sometimes the magic happens and the mixture hits that very fine point where the shade becomes truly exciting. These shades are the ones capable of forming the most dialogues, they are sociable and come to life in connection with other shades.

Possibilities to place brushstrokes on the surrounding canvases with that particular colour will open up like empty slots for puzzle pieces. The paintings grow very slowly and organically, each brushstroke is a new sheet of tissue. I always work horizontally and see the canvas as a kind of map. It is the space in which the colours will interact, there is no up and down or left and right. It is an area of encounter where the colours can start their dialogue.

They will first create particular dynamics among them as they expand into the white space. Then, as they move upwards into the layered dimension, a second dynamic emerges. In that process, some colours might change their identity completely, like a chameleon, others might still shine through in their original self.

To a point, the mutual reaction between the shades can be predicted, but the colours will always have the final word. Elements of surprise and disappointment create a dynamic here that makes the whole process exciting. The works are finished when a brushstroke reveals to have been the last missing puzzle piece.

When is it too much? When is it too little? I try to find a balance between a result that is simple enough to pass on a clear visual message, but complicated enough to keep the viewer busy and intrigued.

Stefanie Schulte PhD, November 2024