Sarah Beth Latane, an emerging artist based in Staunton, announces her latest body of work, “Little Paper Worlds,” a collection of mixed media pieces.
“Little Paper Worlds” will be displayed at Art Hive with an opening reception held Friday, April 4 from 5 to 7 p.m. with the artist, who holds a bachelor’s in Studio Art from Warren Wilson College.
“The process of creating these pieces has been a calming refuge for me during an increasingly turbulent time. I hope they offer others the same sense of peace and contemplation,” Latane said.
Latane’s mixed media pieces explore the interplay between control and spontaneity through hand-painted paper collage. Latane rediscovered her passion for painting as a form of therapeutic expression following postpartum depression. Her journey back to art has led to a deeply intuitive and layered creative practice, drawing inspiration from both nature and emotion.
Characterized by a harmonious blend of materials, Latane’s work includes watercolor, acrylic, water-soluble wax crayons, colored pencils, oil pastels and oil sticks. She creates on various substrates such as paper, canvas and wood panel, using hand-painted found paper collage as a preferred medium. Her pieces reflect a balance between order and disorder, with tightly painted botanical elements or crisp collage layers emerging from loose, expressive marks. The tension mirrors her own experience navigating the complexities of motherhood and the unpredictability of daily life.
“Little Paper Worlds” was inspired by an online course from Australian artist Laura Horn, in which Latane embraced the discipline of a limited color palette. Working primarily with four colors plus black and white, she discovered a new appreciation for moody neutrals and subtle textures. The resulting works evoke a quiet, otherworldly essence, offering a visual sanctuary amid the chaos of contemporary life.
Latane’s work is a testament to the transformative power of art and its ability to navigate the depths of emotion through material exploration. Her artistic journey continues to evolve as she experiments with new techniques and mediums, always seeking to convey the layered beauty of both the natural world and the human experience.
Art Hive is at 835 Spring Hill Rd., Staunton.
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Rebecca Barnabi
