Jenifer Padilla

My work is directly influenced by my surroundings and my travel experiences. I’m especially drawn to the delicate shapes, textures, and colors of fruit; the mark of graffiti and tag art; and the lines created by cityscapes, mass transit and trains. For reference and inspiration, when creating work, I use photography, sketches, Xerox, and 8mm film. My latest work has been inspired by the Cambodian choreographer, Sophiline Cheam Shapiro, She spoke recently about her production of “Pamina Devi” with her all-female company. The story had a character that was constantly taking what was right in front of her for granted, in this case, a bird. As Shapiro described it, when the character finally “settled inside;” she was able to “let go” and “focus on the grass right in front of her…you water it, fertilize it, trim it, care for it; it will be as green as the other side.” Her words touched me deeply, giving me a new perspective of how I wanted to approach my painting. I challenged myself to look at my work with fresh eyes. My goal was to appreciate what was in front of me and paint it in a new light – making it greener.