by Patricia Frischer
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| Vicki Walsh: Heard detail |
We know that Vicki Walsh is a highly skilled draftsperson.
She did medical illustration for years and her detailed portraits are tour de
forces of control that go deep into the psychology of the sitter. This is not
the first time she has shifted subject matter, but this set of art works has an
unusual start. She is teaching a course at Palomar College, and using oil-based ink and
pen…what we a call a ball point pen, but a none smear artist quality version…not necessarily
expensive, but still special.
The series starts with a rain storm over the ocean, when
set the format (8” by 26.5”) for all the
works. It is followed with an image a sheep in tall grass, and one image her
student found of a bear in the woods. Those
animals beget a crowd of mammals running. We leave the reason for the stampede
to your imagination. This is when things start to turn a bit darker. While watching
a murder mystery on TV, an amputated limb was covered with a sheet and bang,
Walsh was back in her medical illustration mode. It was a short jump to a seahorse
spilled out of a glass of water and a tiny father figure with a huge hand.
Fantasy and reality, innocence and irony, light and dark,
all inform these narratives from childhood dreams to adult nightmares.
Walsh has built a passionate community of students who
continually return to her classes, engaging with each other and the broader art
world through shows, events, and exhibitions. Her studio has blossomed into a
vibrant center for creativity, fostering not only technical skills but a deep
sense of camaraderie and commitment to the arts within the local community. To read more about Vicki Walsh and Sip art Space see the North County Arts Network profile.
