Sondra Wampler
Sondra Wampler
Still Life is a project I began in the mid 1990’s, inspired by my love of gardens and the intricate design found in nature. The simple beauty of watching the transformation from seed to a magnificent flower or a life sustaining vegetable amazes me. Plants are essential for life and I find it alarming that man constantly endeavors to reinvent nature; I am concerned about the disposable, synthetic planet we have become. It is my intent that viewers see beyond the simplicity of these organic portraits, and the cycle of life they embody. As Steichen said: “Once you really commence to see things, then you really commence to feel things.”
In creating this body of work I studied the European master paintings of the seventeenth century Still Life genre. This proved inspirational and helped greatly with the complexity of the compositions and the use of natural light and how it affects change in form and texture. The images have been photographed with a large format camera to enhance the rich textures and subtle nuances found in these subjects. By working alone and styling my own arrangements I have formed a deep connection with my subjects, which I wish to convey to the viewer. Many of the botanicals found in these images were grown in my garden and capturing them on film has enabled me to forever preserve their transitory existence and delicate beauty.
Technical Process
I prefer to create a botanical image more humanistic or portrait-like by removing the subject from the natural environment. I photograph my subjects in a daylight studio against backdrops I have painted, using large format cameras (4”x5” and 8”x10”) to retain tremendous detail, thus allowing the viewer to discover things in large-scale prints they may not be aware of. Digital technology has improved oversized printmaking by eliminating the excessive use of chemistry and water, all better for the environment. I digitize my original black & white negatives, manipulating them as I would in the darkroom. The images are then printed using carbon pigments to capture the rich black and white sepia tone of my traditional darkroom prints. By printing on 100% cotton rag art paper, the final result is a soft, full-tone print reminiscent of the platinum-palladium print process. All pieces are signed limited editions, printed and framed using archival standards for maximum longevity.
Education
Santa MonicaCollege, Commercial Photography 1982
Master Class with Mark Citret 2000
Awards
Downers GroveArt Festival, IL Best of Show, 2011
Downers GroveArt Festival, IL Best of Show, 2010
Port Clinton Art Festival, Highland Park, IL First Place Photography 2010
Gold Coast Art Festival, Chicago, IL Third Place Photography 2010
Smokey Hill Arts Festival, Salina, KS Merit Award June 2010
Cantigny Art Festival, Wheaton, IL, Best in Show June 2010
Port Clinton, Highland Park, IL, Merit Award Aug 2009
Port Clinton, Highland Park, IL, Merit Award Aug 2008
Beverly Hills, Affair in the Gardens, 1st Place May 2008
Indian Wells Arts Festival, 3rd Place, April 2008
Armonk Art Fair, New York, Best in Show, 2007
Crosby Art Festival, Ohio, 2nd Place, July 2007
Beverly HillsAffair in the Gardens, 1st Place, May 2007
Boca RatonMuseumof Art, Merit Award, 2007
Indian Wells Art Festival, 2nd Place Photography 2007
Armonk Art Fair, New York, 1st Place Photography, 2006
Bruce Museum Fine Art Fair, 3rd Place Photography, 2006
Beverly Hills Affair in the Gardens, 3rd Place Photography, spring 2006
Indian Wells Art Festival, 1st Place Photography, 2006
Indian Wells Art Festival, Best in Show 2006
ScottsdaleArt Festival, 2nd Place Photography 2006
Beverly HillsAffair in the Gardens, 2nd Place, October 2005
St. LouisArt Fair, First Place, 2005
Graphis juried competition for publication in 2005 photo annual
Beverly Hills Affair in the Gardens, Honorable mention, May 2005
Beverly HillsAffair in the Gardens, Mayors Purchase Award, May 2005
ConejoValley Art Museum, Art Walk, 3rd Place 2004
Graphis juried competition for publication in Flora, 2002
Exhibits
Sylvia White Gallery, Group Exhibition Ventura, CA 2009
Weissman Gallery, Group Photography Show, Chicago 2007
Santa Monica College Gallery, CA Solo Show 2004
Urban Eden, Venice Art Exhibit, 2002
Calumet Photographic, solo Exhibit 1998
Women in Business, Women in Art ,traveling exhibit 1997-1998
Santa Monica College Gallery, tandem show 1996
LA Art Association, “Salon de le Petit”, group exhibit 1996
Virginia Miller Gallery Miami, group exhibit 1996
Publisher
Editions Limited Galleries, San Francisco CA
Installations
ScottsdaleQuarter, Glimcher, Scottsdale AZ
Corporate Collectors
Bloomingdales, South Coast Plaza
Bloomingdales, San Francisco
City ofBeverly Hills permanent collection, ca
Kaiser Permanente Challenge Way, Sacramento CA
Kaiser Permanente of Roseville CA
W Hotel, San DiegoCA
W HOTEL, Los Angeles CA
Four Seasons, Boston
Private Collectors
List provided upon request
Film &TV
The Shaggy Dog, Disney, 2006
Friend’s episode No. 4.24, 1998
Zookeeper, Columbia Pictures/MGM, 2010
Tootsie, Columbia Pictures, 1982
Bibliography
Graphis Photo Annual 2005
Flora I, Graphis 2002
Still Life, by Sondra Wampler, Twin