I am inspired by the rough, powerful, natural beauty of Oregon land. My attention is drawn to the forest, water, rocks and sky.
I often think about time, human and geologic and how these things change or don't change over the minutes to years.
Their longevity is reassuring as I witness the turmoil and chaos of our current human world. These elements, water, sky and stone will outlast us all.
Will the complex forest survive? I think so, but that is questionable.
My view is usually close up and detailed; my style is realistic but with a soft edge, trying to be as relaxed as possible. I use layers of glazes to define and focus the subject.
I have begun “deconstructing” the images to edge towards capturing the complexity of the moment of appreciation of the natural scene.
At the point of sensing the beauty there are other aspects that contribute, the sunlight, the breeze, the smells, the temperature.
Of course all those senses are too complex for one still image, but by using a triptych tradition or a small cluster of paintings, I am inferring multiplicity.
Adding a contrasting, non-organic flat color, geometric shape or outline references the intersection of humans and nature. We interact with the natural world and repeatedly try to harness and control it, but (luckily) we falter.
Here are a few examples...there are even more !!!
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| Drainage - 36"x36" |
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| We found water at Killen Creek |
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| Black branch with many points |
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| Black branch with soft pink berries |
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| Dry swing |
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| Promise |
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| Scars sculpt, wounds heal |
The first 2 paintings of this redirection towards honoring the forest:
The Nurse Log series: one of the frequent features of the Pacific Northwest forests!
