"Painter of Sky, Water, and Earth"
I have thought much on the process of art. For me, the whole feeling of connection is made complete in the magic and music of the moment. The most energizing or exciting part of painting is the start of it, especially "en plein air," painting outdoors.
Since early childhood, I have felt completely comfortable in the solitude of "The Forest," a place where a sense of peace is felt. While painting in the woods, all the senses are attuned to the smells, sounds, and feelings emoted in response to experiences, such as dappled light on fall leaves. With pastels or a paintbrush, repetitive mark making, color, shapes, and design become important elements to express and are unique unto that moment in time. Slightly abstract images emerge from tree forms and shadow patterns. Responding to these unique situations spur my creative responses into action.
Expansive tranquil or stormy skies of the "Cloudscapes" series provide colors, contrast, and spatial relationships not found in the wooded areas. This large body of related pieces, spanning from the early 80s to present time, fulfills an appreciation for atmospheric weather conditions, endless and ever changing, with possibilities for new compositions in pastels and oils. The Central PA Mountains and skies have been the prime source of inspiration for this series.
The series that I call "Passages" began during my five year residence in Howard, PA, where many an evening or early morning was spent painting, in pastels, the awesome aerial view from the town's dyke. Layers of mountains—moving off in the distance—fronted by the lake—inspired a deep fascination for capturing the atmospheric elements of obscuring moisture. Pastels enabled a quick response to an ever changing view, and hundreds of paintings through all seasons. The information gathered from pastels laid the groundwork for large studio oil paintings. For me, the "Passages" series symbolically represents our changing life and passage in time.
"The Forest," "Cloudscapes," and "Passages" are reoccurring themes throughout my thirty year focus on the landscape. A spontaneous response to what is viewed is tied together with my joy and use of overlays of exquisite color and textures, along with subtle and sensitive gestures. Most of the time, I have no preconceived ideas, only a direct response to what I see while on location, and an interactive response to the colors in paint or pastels. Pastels allow for that special spontaneity that is unique to this medium. Oils take a more thoughtful mixing of color, where the enjoyment of lusciousness and fluid paint can be used to quickly express mood or energy.
The idea of "Fear No Art" is a reminder to me that it is okay to step into unknown territory, take risks, and allow for discovery, during the process of creating art. I have come to realize a relaxed and playful movement, in pastels or paint, can sometimes lead to accidental discoveries. Adventure and experimentation are chosen over safe and predictable outcomes. As a result of this mindset, I consistently create over a hundred pieces a year. Whenever possible, the plein air piece is finished on location. The challenge is to take these spontaneous creations, recognize what is rich and working, and selectively conclude the piece in the studio without overworking or destroying the original freshness. Sometimes it is a year until an opportunity is presented to return to the time and season of the original work, but it is well worth the discipline to stay true to plein air painting!
Through painting familiar, comforting landscapes, my goal is to capture the beauty of our fragile earth environment and clearly convey a message of its importance and connection to man. Keeping my mind's eye open for unique, electric reactions and challenges in pastels and oils continues to excite and rejuvenate my ongoing love of painting Sky, Water, and Earth.
