Margaret Norton Radford
Artist Statement

I began this series of paintings in 1985 when I started college at The Savannah College of Art and Design. Since childhood, I worked diligently and developed a photo-realistic style of drawing and painting and focused mainly on portraits.When this series was born, I stopped painting with my eyes and used my mind as a reference instead.Rather than merely recording visual information, I utilized the elements of art to express emotions, solve problems,and as an escape from the real world.

At first, I expressed social fears with cold leering groups of figures, which gave my work an eerie eldritch feel. I found painting in this manner had a therapeutic effect that helped to relieve fears by transferring them to this new "inner world". As I continued I began to include other aspects of myself to this series such as positive ideas and silly whimsical imaginings. I began adding personal icons that drew me closer and more endeared to the paintings. Humor and nonsense crept in and mingled with those fears...expressionism blended with fantasy. Aesthetically, my inner realm developed a language of my own with the lines, colors, shapes and subjects that unite my paintings.

I feel the distorted frames complete my work. They reflect the frames within the paintings and reemphasize my "worlds within worlds"theme. My frames symbolize windows to not only my imagination but to the veiwers' as well. I created this series of paintings for myself and have been delighted when others have found them meaningful.It is remarkable that feelings so personal are also so universal.I am happy to share my work.

Recent Exhibition History

Jan. 7th 2005 “Other Worlds Paintings by Margaret Radford” Catch 22 Gallery St. Augustine FL.
Oct. 5th 2005 “Group Show” Jacksonville Institute of Art

April to June 2009 "Riverside Arts Market" Jacksonville FL.

Margaret’s work is always on display for private showings by appointment.

2 New Paintings by Margaret Radford

LOVE

AFFECTION

These are my two newest framed paintings: Love and Affection. I hope you like them.

Mandarin Landing Animal Hospital MURAL

These are two murals that I just completed for Jacksonville's only Dog Surgery Rehabilitation Clinic, part of my friend Dr. Anne Silverness' Mandarin Landing Animal Hospital

Margaret Radford Fine Art paintings with custom hand built and painted frames

Margaret Radford fine art custom framed paintings in oil and acrylic on board. Please contact me for more info on these paintings.

Margaret Radford Fine Art Portraits in Oil and Charcoal hand drawn and painted

These are some selctions of my hand drawn and painted portraits in oil and charcoal. I have been painting since I was a child. I painted most of these from photos. I paint oil on canvas or wood. The charcoals are on gessoed archival Illustration Board. I am currently taking orders for portraits.