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Clare Schmehl

I Only Dream in Pastel

I Only Dream in Pastel

Regular price $700
Regular price Sale price $700
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"I Only Dream in Pastel" reflects Schmehl’s innovative approach of using "paper as paint,” creating a layered composition that resonates with texture and color. The base is an eclectic mix of magazines, comics, tissue paper, and charcoal, topped with scraps of paint that hint at urban decay and a hope for renewal. The pastel-toned billboard scraps and wrapping paper strips add a dreamy, almost nostalgic quality. The piece’s title - a phrase Schmehl overheard in a casual conversation - adds an intriguing, whimsical layer, inviting viewers to consider the surreal nature of dreams and memory. Pre-framed, this piece captures Schmehl's signature blend of gritty realism and astutely-placed abstraction.

Details

  • Type: Mixed media
  • Year: 2023
  • Material & Medium: Paper, acrylic paint, spray paint on canvas, black stained wood frame
  • Size: 13 x 37 x 1.5 inches (including frame)
  • Ready to Hang: Yes
  • Frame: Included
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About Clare Schmehl

Clare Schmehl is a San Francisco-based mixed media artist whose work captures the pulse of urban life with a gritty, nostalgic flair. Drawing inspiration from city walls, vintage ephemera, and everyday materials, her layered collages evoke a sense of history and human connection. Schmehl’s pieces often challenge societal expectations and celebrate individual resilience, blending elements from magazines, billboard posters, and found papers to explore themes of identity, love, and self-expression. Whether framing a still life with neon accents or juxtaposing bold graffiti with classical motifs, Schmehl’s art is a visual dialogue between the past and present, creating textured narratives that resonate with both playful charm and poignant introspection. Each piece is meticulously crafted, using torn fragments and hand-printed paper to build compositions that embody the dynamic beauty of the urban landscape and invite viewers to see the world through a fresh lens.

LOCATION:
San Francisco, CA

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