Landscapes

Dysphoria, Euphoria, Rapture, and Ecstasy

Nature has always been important to my family and I. The home we recently moved away from was surrounded by nature. It had a lively view of the distant mountains and was located above a golf course. My series of landscape paintings are based on this natural subject. As I became more consumed by my landscapes, I realized that my landscapes are not limited to only physical places but also reference a state of mind. I believe a person’s state of mind can transport a person into a completely different space. A person's surroundings are dictated by how they are truly feeling inside. I want my landscapes to invoke feelings into my audience which can transport them to a different place. 

I use different kinds of paints (oil and acrylic) in my landscapes because it gives the best range of saturated and neutral colors. After the paints have dried, I apply bold strokes of rough oil pastels to bring out textured and gestural marks. Also, I use watercolors  because it allows the opportunity to build different layers of gestural movements. I am interested in contrasting grounded neutral colors with electric saturated colors. I want the colors to dance on the canvas and create a never ending chain of movement.  

With a sketchbook in hand, I would go to my backyard and sketch some compositions from direct observation. After selecting a good view to paint, I start drawing and painting on my canvas on site. The preliminary charcoal drawings on my canvas are very loose, gestural, yet observational.  Finally, I take the painting into my studio and continue to paint from memory. My process is not limited to just plein air painting; it also includes sketching new compositions based on my original gesture drawings. My series of landscapes continue to explore different states of mind when one is fully immersed into nature.