Mixing Traditional with the Unconventional to produce oddly familiar artworks
“The random collaboration of old and new is important to me because this is how I see the new generation. It is the mixture of traditional and unconventional that attracts us and takes us on a fresh new journey.”
Canadian-born artist Ramona Nordal studied art at the Emily Carr Institute of Art and Design in Vancouver, British Columbia. There she studied lithography, colour theory, painting and drawing with a focus on anatomy drawing and painting. Colour theory has always been a huge part of Nordal’s process, and she is quickly becoming known for her richly evocative colour palette. The central theme that unites all of her work is the mixture of the traditional with the unconventional, not only in her subject matter and colour palette but also in her approach to materials and technique.
Nordal pushes artistic boundaries by incorporating drawing within her work. This is evident in the intricately detailed penwork of her subjects’ faces. Nordal is hyper-aware of art’s relationship with human emotion, and her subjects reflect this as they captivate you and entice you into their world. At first glance, they look familiar and then upon a closer look you see references from the 1800’s all the way through to an almost futuristic take on society. Her work can be found in Canada, the United States, Mexico, Australia, Hong Kong and Europe.
The central theme that unites all of her work is the mixture of the traditional with the unconventional, not only in her subject matter and colour palette but also in her approach to materials and technique. She focuses mainly on female subjects in her work in an attempt to capture their strength and uniqueness. At first glance her figures appear bold yet offer almost ethereal characteristics. Nordal pushes artistic boundaries by incorporating drawing within her work. This is evident in the intricately detailed penwork of her subjects’ faces. The softness of the drawing mixed with the boldness of the bodies and background create an incredible fusion that offers just the right amount of tension.
Her subjects are a mixture of the female form with references as early as the late 1800’s to the 1970s. By combining several decades she somehow creates figures that are uniquely Nordal. She is hyper-aware of art’s relationship with human emotion and her subjects reflect this as they captivate you and entice you into their world.
Nordal works on several pieces at once in her studio in Toronto stating “I find I get bored easily and by working on three or four paintings at a time it keeps things fresh for me. I work on one then switch halfway through the day and start working on another one. This allows me the freedom to work on several different collections at once. I like the randomness of the process.”
“The random collaboration of old and new is important to me because this is how I see the new generation. It is the mixture of traditional and unconventional that attracts us and takes us on a fresh new journey.”
I recently participated in Context Art Miami during Art Basel Miami week. It was an incredible experience being able to participate in this kind of show. Art Basel week in Miami attracts collectors from all over the world. It is very rare to be able to have the opportunity to have such a large audience viewing your work. I also enjoyed viewing artwork from the various shows. It was extremely inspiring and somehow put a perspective on my own work and where I am in my career. I found it very helpful in allowing me to turn a new chapter in my career and to push my artistic boundaries as I begin a new body of work for 2023.
Nordal is represented by galleries in the United States, Canada, Germany and Australia. Her work has been collected in Canada, the United States, Mexico, Australia, Singapore and Europe. Ramona Nordal currently lives and works in Toronto, Canada.
“I find I get bored easily and by working on three or four paintings at a time it keeps things fresh for me,” says Ramona Nordal.
