Opening reception: The Depth of Art

Meet artist Michelle Hamilton during a reception for “The Depth of Art” featuring her multilayered acrylic and resin paintings.

Already known for her striking encaustics, Hamilton is now exploring the creative possibilities of layering paper, ink and pigment to achieve the illusion of depth and dimensionality, the feel of “two dimensions eagerly trying to become three dimensions.”Hamilton’s innovative process begins with a layer of paper, ink, paint and colored pencil, covered with a layer of resin. More layers of resin and more ink and paint details are added to create extra depth. It’s a painstaking process, Hamilton says, that does not like to be rushed.

Finding her inspiration in the natural world, Hamilton describes herself as a storyteller, or “perhaps a facilitator of stories” through her art. The vividly colorful animals that make up part of the exhibition have distinct personalities and attitudes, their expressions alive with tales not yet told. “I spend a lot of time on their expressions and getting that look in their eyes just right. In fact, I start with the eyes and the rest of the piece flows from there. If the viewer takes the time to look into those eyes and listen with an imaginative ear, I believe that they will hear a story meant just for them.”