Merrimon-Kennedy

Merrimon’s love of art goes back to early childhood, and this passion has led to a lifetime involvement. She received a BFA in painting from Tulane University in the mid 70’s, took a few graduate courses and by the late 80’s was owner of an art and craft gallery on the coast of North Carolina. After almost thirty years as a gallerist, she retired from the gallery and resumed a full time art practice. She has successfully made this transition, returning to the role of artist. Merrimon’s work is enjoyed by collectors throughout the United States and abroad.

Artist Statement

My two bodies of work, landscapes and non-representational abstracts, inform one another.

When creating a plein air landscape, I am obviously composing from observation. Non-representational works are intuitive and most often unplanned. The exception would be scaling up a sketchbook study or reinterpreting an earlier landscape or abstract. The intuitive pieces evolve slowly and are built up from many layers added and removed or obscured. There is a history to the surface; oftentimes earlier layers read thru the most recent. 

 

Most intuitive pieces begin with no plan or direction and slowly evolve to become what the viewer sees when finally displayed. Larger-scale pieces are typically painted in acrylic, mainly because they dry significantly faster than oils. However, the more familiar I have become with their unique properties, I also appreciate their versatility. Though I will never abandon oils, I am using that medium now primarily for smaller-scale works and plein air.

 

I enjoy painting energetically using a variety of tools, the larger the better. Besides brushes, I like trowels and have a variety of shapes and sizes from the hardware store, silicon painting spatulas, palette or painting knives, and even retired credit cards. My process often involves layering and the addition/subtraction of paint. I am intrigued with surface textures and mark making techniques, employing not only my painting tools to scrape and scratch, but also rags, scrungy pads, steel wool and sandpaper to alter or enhance my work. I want the viewer to feel movement and energy. My strokes are bold and decisive as I aggressively lay out my composition on the canvas or panel. There is structure, but not at the expense of looseness and spontaneity, serving as a guide and lending expression to the composition.

Memberships

Exhibitions

  • Santa Fe Society of Artists 2022 exhibition season, 122 W. Palace Street, Santa Fe, NM

  • UNM Popejoy Hall, Branch Benefactors Lounge Exhibition, SFSA Goup Show, Albuquerque, 2021

  • 13th National PAPNM Juried Members Show, Sorrel Sky Gallery, Santa Fe, NM 2021

  • Santa Fe Society of Artists 2021 exhibition season, 122 W. Palace Street, Santa Fe, NM

  • 12th National PAPNM Juried Members Show, Wilder Nightingale Fine Art, Taos, NM, 2020

  • 11th National PAPNM Juried Members Show, Santa Fe Art Collector, Santa Fe, NM, 2019

  • Santa Fe Society of Artists 2019 exhibition season, 122 W. Palace Street, Santa Fe, NM

  • Wild Rivers Plein Air Festival, Rail Haus at Alpine Lodge, Red River, NM, 2019

  • Happy Little Clouds: Skyscapes of New Mexico, Community Gallery Juried Exhibition, Santa Fe, NM 2019

  • 10th National PAPNM Juried Members Show, Sorrel Sky Gallery, Santa Fe, NM, 2018

  • Santa Fe Society of Artists 2018 exhibition season, 122 W. Palace Street, Santa Fe, NM

  • Wild Rivers Plein Air Festival, Rail Haus at Alpine Lodge, Red River, NM, 2018

  • 9th National PAPNM Juried Members Show, Sorrel Sky Gallery, Santa Fe, NM 2017

  • Pojoaque River Art Tour, Pojoaque, NM, 2017

  • PAPNM Spring Paintout, Jemez Fine Art Gallery, Jemez Springs, NM 2017

  • Pojoaque River Art Tour, Pojoaque, NM 2016

  • Cameron Museum of Art, State of the Art/Art of the State, Wilmington, NC, 2014

Awards

  • Louisa McElwain Memorial Award, 11th PAPNM Juried Members Show, Judge of Awards: Peggi Kroll-Roberts