Paxton is a multidisciplinary artist with a focus on conceptual art based in Dallas, TX. She introduced herself mainly as a painter in 2003 but soon after found her love of photography. She is now allowing herself to let all of her skills bleed into one another including photography, digital painting, watercolor, mixed media, installation art, collage and design. She is known for her surreal constructed photography works and that is mostly what I am showing in this post.
I loved working on this post with Paxton and I’m really into her work. The first pieces are from my favorite collection “West of 3:00 am” — the pops of bright color against the serene backgrounds create such an arresting landscape, the contrasting environments created by the slicing of the planes.
Learn more and read my Q&A with Paxton, below!
5 Questions for Paxton Maroney
1) What is your favorite kind of work to do at the moment?
That is very difficult to choose because every day seems to lend itself to a different medium. I’d say watercolour and mixed media is what I have leaned on as of late (though I have yet to share these new works online). Work comes in all shapes and sizes. I do create for myself when it comes to artwork but I also take clients and commissions as well and that will forever keep me on my toes. Whether it is a very simple portrait or getting to work with an architectural firm by shooting fine art pieces of their design projects… I have a huge passion for all things photography. To sum that up, all types of creative work keeps me happy and busy.
2) What kinds of things inspire you?
What I have noticed in the past 10 years is that inspiration tends to come more so from times of struggle. My process starts in a very unique place. My dreams. Dreams are personal and sometimes not telling of their nature immediately. I feel a sense of urgency to create what I have seen on the backs of my eyelids, to tell this story visually, so that it is documented to the best of my abilities through whatever medium I choose. Sometimes I do not know what they mean, personally, for years. It is humbling to share them with the world and let them have meaning to others before I might find it for myself.
3) Who else do you admire in the art space?
Goodness, that could be a very long list. Of the highly accomplished the first two that come to mind are Andy Goldsworthy and Richard Serra. I’ve had a long love affair with Andy’s work and it would be a dream to meet him someday. I think my first trip just might be to Scotland when the world has come back to some form of normalcy after COVID, if there is such a thing!
4) Coolest possession?
One might say, being an art collector myself, a certain piece from an artist they adore. But I would have to say my tools that allow me to create. All of my brushes, paints, cameras, equipment, etc… I cherish them. What would I be without the tools that allow me to show you how I see?
5) Favorite quote or words to live by?
Hope is the thing with feathers
—Emily Dickinson
That perches in the soul,
And sings the tune without the words,
And never stops at all,
And sweetest in the gale is heard;
And sore must be the storm
That could abash the little bird
That kept so many warm.
I’ve heard it in the chillest land,
And on the strangest sea;
Yet, never, in extremity,
It asked a crumb of me.
We all need hope and Emily said it in one of the most beautiful ways. She uses the symbolism of birds in her words just as I do in my visual artworks.
To see more work:
Follow Paxton on Instagram, or visit her site for more. She has a shop on her site – check it out!
I hope everyone has a wonderful rest of the week!
xx—BB
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