Wide Open, 20 x 24, 2015

Wide Open is a more contemporary take on the traditional landscape, and represents the blending of land forms and atmosphere when seen at great distance.  To me, this is symbolic of the interconnectedness of man and nature, where we are our environment through the way we process our unique perceptions.

One of the primary influences for this direction in my work is the Spanish Realist painter Antonio Lopez Garcia, and his work with an elevated perspective, most notably seen in his paintings depicting Madrid and the surrounding area.  Lopez says, " The decisive factor is when you first choose a particular area of the city as your subject: the distance from which you observe that area is what allows you to widen the scope of your vision."  When you study paintings such as View of North Madrid from "La Maliciosa, you find a huge canvas (51.2 x 78.75) filled with endless, flowing brush work, subtle detail, and the masterful depiction of receding space and atmosphere.  Luscious.  It makes me long for huge canvases.

Wide Open was painted on a canvas that had been textured with gesso first.  This surface helps create exciting layers of color and abstract forms, but does not lend itself well to the realist detail seen in Lopez's work.   So...another day, another painting just waiting to emerge. 

Juniper, 8 x 10, oil on linen

 

Very pleased to announce that Juniper has been accepted into the Oil Painters of America's First Annual Salon Show, to be held June 21 through August 31, 2013, at

Crooked Tree Arts Center, Inc in 

Petoskey, MI

 

 

Summer Morning, Oil

So pleased to announce that Summer Morning will be included in

Salon International 13, hosted by Greenhouse Gallery.

Will post more details as I get them. 

Red Leaves and Snow, oil, 16 x 20 (SOLD)

News from the Studio 

sold

 Welcome, and thank you for letting me talk to you about art...

I wanted to share with you one of my recent paintings.

This is the edge of a winter field.  It's the one time when you can really see the red in the cinder ground, and of course those few resistant leaves that refuse to leave the branch.  The storm came through earlier than expected and the nearby tree lost several branches, but that is winter here.  The cold comes and goes, as does the rain, or snow, or that in-between stuff that makes it really hard to walk on the uneven ground after it freezes overnight.  

Why did I choose to paint this scene?  Winter reveals more of the landscape than any other season.  I like the cold silence, where you can hear the sounds of life - birds scratching for the forgotten seed, a distant dog barking, an intense feeling of being alive in the moment between things.

Please visit Paintings from the Oregon Outback, where you can see recent paintings, read interesting articles, and feel inspired. 

Icons of the West Exhibition

Snow Flurries, Ochoco Ranch
20 x 16, oil

I am honored to announce that Snow Flurries has been selected into the prestigious National Icons of the West Exhibition, to be held at Dana Gallery, 246 N Higgins, Missoula, MT

The jury for this show consisted of five judges including art patrons, professional artists, university faculty and museum personnel.  The judges selected over 100 pieces of work from nationally and regionally acclaimed artists. 
Public opening will be Friday, June 1.  The exhibition runs from June 1 through August 31, 2012
For more information please contact Dana Gallery at 406-721-3154, or info@danagallery.com

Ancestor Series #5 up for bid

Ancestor Series #5

Aren't we all just a little fascinated by the people who came before us?  Native Cultures call them the Ancestors.  We discover tiny hints about their lives in the ancient fresco paintings at archeological sites. 

The Ancestor Series grew out of a fascination in discovering the faces in the stone, images that began to emerge from the textures created on the painting surface.  I start with smooth gessoed 6 inch by 6 inch panels on a 1.5 inch cradle.  I apply tape and additional levels of gesso, then began to mark with a pencil.  As the gesso dries, I search for the suggestion of a face.  When I find it, I start with charcoal sticks followed by oil paint rubbed into the surface. 

At times this approach feels close to what I imagine ancient cave painters did, using the textures of the rock to help suggest their forms.  Don't you wonder what stories this face might have to tell?
 

 

 Click here to bid

Snow at Smith Rocks from The Mountain Series

Snow at Smith Rocks, from The Mountain Series

is now up for bid on eBay

For more information, or to bid on this painting, please click here.

There is a famous rock climbing area nearby that draws people from around the world.  The rocks rise up abruptly from a deep canyon and are rich ochers and reds in the early spring sunlight, as the sun begins to move higher in the sky.  Unfortunately we still deal with the occasional late spring snow that melts away soon enough but leaves a chill in the clear air. 
~Sue

This painting is new from my Mountain Series.  Most of the paintings to date have been large, but I began a new series in smaller "Daily Painting" size formats.

Original oil landscape painting, 5 inches high by 7 inches wide, on gessoed panel, not framed.  Signed with initials lower right.  Signed in full on reverse.  2012.

I hope you enjoy them.  More to come.