ahankins

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April Hankins

About Me

Favorite Medium: paintings
Statement: My work may be said to have visual variety. The connecting thread is a pattern based on Fibonacci numbers.There are three influences to my work, but the first and strongest is that of Fibonacci numbers. To jog the memory, each Fibonacci number is calculated as the sum of the previous two, (i.e., 0, 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8 and so on). I was struck by the prevalence of the sequence in the research I did when drawing sea shells. Later, when working on a graphic involving phases of the moon, I found the sequence useful in illustrating the blossoming of an idea. Captivated by the sequenceÂ’s beauty and adaptability, for painting I designed an abstract pattern by dividing a circle into eight pie-shaped parts, and set the parts -- or angles really, in a linear arrangement of ever increasing proportion as in the Fibonacci sequence. Reducing this diagram to a Â“short handÂ” of horizontal, vertical and diagonal lines created a versatile 12 element pattern that I have used ever since.Because of the patternÂ’s profound mathematical beauty and meditative qualities I was compelled to use it. After prolonged experience I was able to recognize the pattern frequently out in the world and in unexpected places. Also, using it had prepared and created in me an affinity for the second influence to my work, Buddhist thangkas.The thangkas images are of strong color and chaotic movement reminding believers of cosmic realms behind and beyond our day-to-day reality. To express this notion in my paintings I disordered the grid, heightened color and painted curves and spirals naturally derived from Fibonacci numbers to jar composition and syncopate visual rhythms.In this expanded painting vocabulary images from the Tarot surfaced, the third influence to my work. As a card reader of many years IÂ’m familiar with Tarot archetypes and the meanings as to relative psychological states. The images in my paintings, though seemingly abstract, reflect states of the TarotÂ’s Major Arcana. The titles would come to mind upon completion of the paintings.There is an interesting parallel to my abstract pattern in the Tarot deck. Both have a set number of parts. The combination of the deckÂ’s cards or the patternÂ’s parts relative to sequence and arrangement creates a story or an image unique to a context and time. The stories, as the images, are infinite in variety, yet all are created with a consistent set.My recent work has a stronger sense of physical movement and emotion. The visual rhythms are lyrical and the images echo natural forms. These paintings are made differently as what was before conscious, or even planned, is there now by second nature. The newer images and their meanings are spontaneous, built upon the foundation of earlier work and come from an opening up of process and inspiration.
Bibliography: April 23-29, 1996; Hill, Shawn. ""Driven to Abstraction,"" The Tab April 1996; Kline, Katy. ""Face to Face: Recent Abstract Painting,"" MIT List Visual Arts Center April 28, 1996; Sherman, Mary. ""Meet Abstract Art `Face to Face,'"" Boston Sunday Herald, May 7, 1996; Temin, Christine. ""The Clash of the Abstracts,"" Boston Globe November 12, 1995; Auer, James. ""Art Show Mark Places Underfoot and In Our Hearts,"" Milwaukee Journal/Sentinel 1994-1995; Â“Remarks,Â” Art in General Manual
Birth City: Oak Park, IL
Birth Year: 1952

Contact

San Francisco, California
United States
april@aprilhankins.com
Phone: 415-979-1550
Website
Fax: 831-576-6720

Professional

Awards: 1999; Erector Square Gallery JurorÂ’s Award 1991; Ely Harwood Schless Memorial Fund Prize 1991; Whitney House Gallery Prize 1991; Yale Teaching Assistantship 1990; Yale Tuition Scholarship 1989; Yale Tuition Scholarship
Teaching Experience: 1996; SUNY New Paltz, NY, Drawing, Design 1994-95; Massachusetts College of Art, Boston, MA; Design, Foundation 1994; Lynn Community College, Lynn, MA; Drawing 1991; Yale University School of Art; Drawing

Education

Degree: MFA
Institution: Yale University School of Art
Grad Year: 1991

Artwork by this artist

April Hankins California art oil 16 x 16	April Hankins California art oil 20 x 20
April Hankins California art oil 29 x 23	April Hankins California art oil 48 x 48

ahankins

Artist Profile

April Hankins

About Me

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Artwork by this artist