Cameron, Mikie, authorSullivan, Patrice, advisorEmami, Sanam, committee memberFlippen, Paul, committee memberMcKee, Patrick, committee memberMoseman, Eleanor, committee member2007-01-032007-01-032013http://hdl.handle.net/10217/79012Simply observing the world around me can be fascinating. Patterns and forms I find on stones and pebbles especially provoke my imagination. In my works, I observe and render natural forms onto surfaces; I interpret rocks from my collection into multi-colored, multi-layered, quiet paintings on carefully prepared panels. By translating my experience of these objects into art I am investigating my own perception of such an other, the alien rock - what it means to enter into a dialogue with it, subsequently constituting it and reconciling myself with it. Following this activity, a painting is created; an entirely new thing is made that the viewer can then contemplate. What follows is a description of how my work relates to contemporary theoretical considerations of perception, phenomenology, and epistemology. The rock collection paintings are a visual exploration of theoretical notions including phenomenology of perception, play transformed into structure, and experience of the other. As a result of the process of experiencing and translating a rock into a quiet oil painting I produce a visual playground. What exists is not two closed off subjects: the painting and the viewer, but a playful yet serious dialogue occurring between the two entities. What emerges from the discourse between viewer and painting is a form of self-knowledge. These works of art are forms of truth that, in part, shape the viewer.born digitalmasters thesesengCopyright and other restrictions may apply. User is responsible for compliance with all applicable laws. For information about copyright law, please see https://libguides.colostate.edu/copyright.oil paintingrocksphenomenologypaintingperceptionabstractionText