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Portraits in Oil
The beauty and mystery of Nature are at the core of my work. Whether working en plein air or in the studio, I am aware of the connection between art, spirit, and life. My focus is on color. I create visual brilliance by allowing the drama of light and color to shape my compositions while I experiment with color placement and color relationships. I begin with a sketch on prepared hardboard panels, and I apply the first layer of paint with brushes, creating a cohesive value study under-painting that serves as a value skeleton for successive applications of color. With a palette knife I apply one layer of paint at a time, while also scraping paint away, letting each layer dry between applications. I work toward a smooth finish on my surfaces, yet I want them to visually appear textured. Each layer of color is allowed to show through in the finished piece. I use the same process with pastels without scraping color away.
In my portrait oil paintings I crop the face closely with little or no background, often excluding the top of the head, hair, parts of chins, ears. I focus on the language of the eyes and the emotion they show. Sometimes the eyes pose a question or cause one to wonder what is being seen, thought, felt, or said. I love a deep, direct gaze. As I add and subtract paint, this process takes me out of time and deep within. It is there that I discover some part of myself within the intimate landscape of the other. This is the discovery that holds me captivated. Here I find glimpses of spirit within where any feelings of being separate fade into a sense of connection.
I find the same mystery and self-discovery while painting the landscape, and most always work en plain air so I can experience a connection with the spirit of the land. It is this process, this inner journey that speaks to me. As I recreate Nature’s beauty and mystery, I too, am recreated.
Submitted to Winter 2009 Showcase
One Comment
All three of these paintings are amazing to me. The style is completely fresh and the portraits somehow capture the essence of each person. As the artist notes, there is a focus on the eyes and the effect is very profound and moving.