Across the Diagonal

Liz Stolhman 

 I was pleased to attend another solo student show  of  Sacramento State undergraduate , Liz Stolhman, February 7th, 2019,  located at the R.W. Witt Gallery. The exhibition titled, Across the Diagonal, features a variety of concept drawings and studies of the appreciation of country life. Many of Stollhmans works featured horse portraiture. I found it fascinating how the artist portrayed such an ordinary thing in an abstract way and also the way the artist included a vocabulary of unique markings throughout each specific piece. The artist used the technique of building up brushstrokes/ impasto- to convey a tactile accumulation and recording of time. The obscured forms are then transformed into obscured forms and then materialize from the paint. The horse acts as a vehicle, not only physically transporting the rider to another location; but also metaphorically hinting at the change in personal development. 

The term, " Across the Diagonal" is essentially  a reference to a horseback riding term meaning, "to ride along the diagonal lines of a rectangle arena." if one were to "cross the diagonal" - it means they typically change the direction in which they are moving. 

Untitled, 8x10,  2018