.Pause. is a series of fifteen abstract oil paintings that represent a visual inspection of changing mental/emotional states of being as we navigate life. My subject matter consists of natural and organic forms that twist, contort, overlap, and flow. These aspects—combined with dramatic and gradual shifts in color, movement, layering and lighting—create a bizarre environment of conflict and growth as well as a space for contemplation.
This series is a mixture of stylistic directions, including abstract representation, gestural, and nonobjective work. Perception is called into question as the visual information becomes more obscure. Outside elements, such as lighting and the viewer’s position, play a large role in shaping the audience experience.
My work includes themes similar to contemporary representational artists and stylistic choices reminiscent of the abstract expressionists.
","abstract_html":"<p><em>.Pause.</em> is a series of fifteen abstract oil paintings that represent a visual inspection of changing mental/emotional states of being as we navigate life. My subject matter consists of natural and organic forms that twist, contort, overlap, and flow. These aspects—combined with dramatic and gradual shifts in color, movement, layering and lighting—create a bizarre environment of conflict and growth as well as a space for contemplation.</p> <p>This series is a mixture of stylistic directions, including abstract representation, gestural, and nonobjective work. Perception is called into question as the visual information becomes more obscure. Outside elements, such as lighting and the viewer’s position, play a large role in shaping the audience experience.</p> <p>My work includes themes similar to contemporary representational artists and stylistic choices reminiscent of the abstract expressionists.</p>","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Dorris, Richelle M"],"institution":null,"degree_name":"Master of Fine Arts","degree_level":"Thesis","degree_discipline":"Art","degree_department":null,"school":null,"contributors":["Wesley Berg","Shaun Roberts","Candace Hicks"],"advisors":[],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":[],"year":2019,"date_issued":"2019-12-01T08:00:00Z","date_published":"2019-12-01T08:00:00Z","updated_at":"2026-07-24T04:30:22Z","subjects":["Art","painting","Pause","abstract expressionist","representational","perception","Fine Arts"],"languages":[],"rights":[],"rights_urls":[],"identifier_entries":[]},"links":{"outbound_url":"https://scholarworks.sfasu.edu/etds/327","outbound_label":"Repository record","outbound_source":"dc:identifier"},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:contributor","label":"Contributor","values":["Wesley Berg","Shaun Roberts","Candace Hicks"]},{"key":"dc:creator","label":"Author","values":["Dorris, Richelle M"]}]},{"id":"academic_context","label":"Academic Context","entries":[{"key":"dc:date.available","label":"Dc Date Available","values":["2019-12-15T08:00:00Z"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_discipline","label":"Discipline","values":["Art"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_level","label":"Degree Level","values":["Thesis"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_name","label":"Degree Name","values":["Master of Fine Arts"]}]},{"id":"subjects_keywords","label":"Subjects and Keywords","entries":[{"key":"dc:subject","label":"Dc Subject","values":["Art","painting","Pause","abstract expressionist","representational","perception","Fine Arts"]}]},{"id":"identifiers","label":"Identifiers","entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier","label":"Identifier","values":["https://scholarworks.sfasu.edu/etds/327"]}]},{"id":"additional","label":"Additional Metadata","entries":[{"key":"dc:description.abstract","label":"Abstract","values":[".Pause. is a series of fifteen abstract oil paintings that represent a visual inspection of changing mental/emotional states of being as we navigate life. My subject matter consists of natural and organic forms that twist, contort, overlap, and flow. These aspects—combined with dramatic and gradual shifts in color, movement, layering and lighting—create a bizarre environment of conflict and growth as well as a space for contemplation.
This series is a mixture of stylistic directions, including abstract representation, gestural, and nonobjective work. Perception is called into question as the visual information becomes more obscure. Outside elements, such as lighting and the viewer’s position, play a large role in shaping the audience experience.
My work includes themes similar to contemporary representational artists and stylistic choices reminiscent of the abstract expressionists.
"]},{"key":"dc:title","label":"Title","values":[".Pause."]}]}],"canonical_facts":{"dc:contributor":["Wesley Berg","Shaun Roberts","Candace Hicks"],"dc:creator":["Dorris, Richelle M"],"dc:date.available":["2019-12-15T08:00:00Z"],"dc:description.abstract":[".Pause. is a series of fifteen abstract oil paintings that represent a visual inspection of changing mental/emotional states of being as we navigate life. My subject matter consists of natural and organic forms that twist, contort, overlap, and flow. These aspects—combined with dramatic and gradual shifts in color, movement, layering and lighting—create a bizarre environment of conflict and growth as well as a space for contemplation.
This series is a mixture of stylistic directions, including abstract representation, gestural, and nonobjective work. Perception is called into question as the visual information becomes more obscure. Outside elements, such as lighting and the viewer’s position, play a large role in shaping the audience experience.
My work includes themes similar to contemporary representational artists and stylistic choices reminiscent of the abstract expressionists.
"],"dc:identifier":["https://scholarworks.sfasu.edu/etds/327"],"dc:subject":["Art","painting","Pause","abstract expressionist","representational","perception","Fine Arts"],"dc:title":[".Pause."],"thesis:degree_discipline":["Art"],"thesis:degree_level":["Thesis"],"thesis:degree_name":["Master of Fine Arts"]},"updated_at":"2026-07-24T04:30:22Z"}