Molly Sieburg Courcelle

Molly Sieburg Courcelle
Wedge Studios #
www.mollycourcelle.com

A love of nature is the inspiration that brings rich and subtle colors to Molly Courcelle’s organic abstracts.  Something as simple as a fallen leaf or bit of moss is all it takes to capture her imagination, “I often fill my pockets with found objects from walks in the woods or puttering in the garden, taking these treasures back to the studio for a closer look.  It’s an exhilarating feeling when something as tiny as a fold in a flower begins the process of bringing paints together on canvas.”

Molly’s enthusiasm for the outdoors came early in life when her mother, Asheville artist, Bee Sieburg, gathered the neighborhood children in the garden for painting lessons.  It was a fun-filled experience, discovering the joy of playing with paints and seeing the world with wonder.

It seemed only natural that Molly would pursue an education in arts after growing up in an environment that embraced such self-expression and creativity.  She attended Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, majoring in art with a focus on painting.

A career working as a floral designer in Boston and later going into business with Bee, opening and operating the Gardener’s Cottage in Biltmore Village for five years, has provided Molly an opportunity to express her talent for design and merchandising.  All along, she has perfected her own style of painting that embraces the gentle moods of nature.

     

Ruffle (left)
Broken and Becoming (right)

Artist Statement

I have always been fascinated by paint...the feel of the medium, the effects of the brushes, the push and pull of line, plain, and form. With this in mind, my work is as much about the process of painting as it is about the final image. Each painting is its own unique experience. Inspiration starts with something specific from a natural object, such as the color on a petal, the shape of a leaf, or the line formed with a stem.  With a heavy focus on line and composition, the painting shifts and changes until complete. Much of it is spontaneous, much of it is reactionary. The result is a painting that is generally abstract yet essentially organic.
 Like most artists, it is impossible for the pieces not to reflect my thoughts and life.  My faith is the central focus in my mind, effecting how I see everything and giving purpose and excitement to the act of painting…creating and communicating, rejoicing and praising.  My past, scarred as it is, also plays a role, sneaking in dark and serious parts to overall peaceful and resolved paintings.

     

Out of the Pit (left)
Faith (center)
Memory Abides (right)