“The greenish fluorescence of the church my parents attended and the rosy glow of sunlight through wildfire smoke are present in the layers of my paintings. I use transparency to allow light to pass through layers, while soft surfaces diffuse and reflective pigments throw light in unexpected directions.”

In my brush-to-paper work I use water and ink to pull away and erode layers and small mark making that is later blurred out or left to contrast the ink washes below. Similarly, in my digital pieces, overlapping and altering practices deconstruct and then reconstruct layers. I bloom, blur and glitch colors and shapes to create an atmospheric, ethereal quality that feels both organic and synthetic. In all iterations of my work I attempt to bring the viewers attention to the small and subtle details, their delicacy and their interconnectivity. By working in many overlapping, transparent layers, which all impact the others above and below, I create a visual representation of my experience. No situation or problem exists in a vacuum. There is unending nuance to the world I live in. By reproducing light quality present in my memories I investigate the complexity of those situations, seeking always to find the connections between disparate instances.

Lydia Jewel Gerard is an abstract painter and digital artist based in Tacoma WA. Her work dances around ideas of sexuality, safety, and the investigation of emotion. By utilizing luminance in her digital work and softness in painting, Gerard explores both her own mind and seeks to understand and engage the minds of others.

Gerard received her BA in Studio Arts and Art History from Pepperdine University in 2016 and was first exhibited at the Frederick R. Weisman Museum in the group exhibition Light and Dirty. In the past few years Gerard has been an active member of the Tacoma/Seattle art scene, exhibiting in 2018 at the Spaceworks Woolworth Windows in her solo show Between me and the Sanctified as well as at the FEMME event at Lilith in 2021, where she is the resident curator. In 2022 Gerard’s work was exhibited at the Julian Peña Gallery in her solo show Night Light. Most recently Gerard’s work was presented by the Factory gallery at Museum of Museums in Seattle for her solo exhibition Afterglow. Gerard continually explores the connection between her visual artwork and her passion for dance as both artist in residence and curator for Tacoma Birds of Paradise, an ongoing art event that brings together pole dancers, visual artists and DJ’s.

“we who carry the name of concubine - history will call us wives”

Although this final line from Frank Herberts “Dune” is steeped in patriarchy, when I first read it I was deeply moved. For me this quote speaks of the ability of the daring to shape their own reality and the ways in which context changes our interpretation. In my work I use color, shape and light to alter the viewers perception as well as their emotional state. In interacting with my work the viewer exists in a place where they question their initial read on an image or shape, allowing them to explore what other ways they might approach it.

Ideas To Work By:

Move through your creative community with a mindset of gratitude.
It's easy to approach networking with a “I need to make something out of this” mindset. However, that will ultimately lead to disappointment and burn out. Approaching networking instead with a mindset of gratitude for the conversations and experiences available to you will increase your satisfaction and ultimately your productivity. Gratitude begets inspiration.
Pare down your setup.
Instead of filling your creative space with tools that you might use one day or materials you’re hoping to utilize, think about what you use regularly and keep space for that. You definitely know someone who could benefit from that roll of paper you don’t like or the extra stylus that you were given by a friend. Share the wealth and clear space for your practice.
Balance putting yourself out there with recharging socially.
If you’re an introvert like me, heading out to events where you don’t know anyone can be taxing. While it’s invaluable to spend time in your creative communities, it’s just as important to intentionally decompress. If you make time to do the things that soothe you, you’ll find meeting and collaborating with other creatives way more fulfilling.