About the Nebula Series

Using nebulae as a subject for a series is a natural extension of my previous work with clouds.  Instead of water vapor, nebulae consist of massive towers of gas and dust.  They may be light years away, yet the patterns, shapes, and forms are similar to a cloud in the earth’s atmosphere.  What appears to be a tranquil, graceful form is really the remnant of a violent explosion that could have happened hundreds or thousands of years ago.

Similarly, where in my work the finished piece often appears serene, it is the result of a process that involves an active dialogue with the canvas.  I start with a general idea of where I want the image to go, but the energy from a brushstroke, or the way a color interacts with another on the canvas, often leads to a different direction entirely.  I continually create and destroy forms in the struggle between balance and tension.  Psychologically, the struggle is between exerting control and letting the subconscious emerge.

Artist Bio: 

Dramko often begins with an image from nature, usually the storm clouds she became so familiar with in southwest Florida, and transforms the image into a unique expression of the tumultuous character of human emotion. Dramko explores conflict using color, depth and contrast in her dramatic watercolor and acrylic paintings. Investigating the source of disharmony leads to realization of the connectedness of reality. The themes of balance and tension lend themselves to an art that is at once vigorous and profound. Just as the creative act transforms perception into awareness, her paintings transcend the tangible surface to bring an intangible experience to the viewer, and create a unique visual realm.

Born in Queens, New York, Joanne Dramko currently lives in San Diego, California.

Review of Dramko's work in the Buenaventura Art Association's show.