Artist's Statement
Landscapes
My main interest is the pure beauty of the land which surrounds us: expansive
skies, open fields, marshes leading to the sea, rivers and tides. In my
landscapes I try to capture the "feeling of the place." Watercolor is
interesting for landscapes because the colors flow together with water and
create unexpected effects, just as nature does - in the ever changing hues of
land and sky. On the other hand, using oils makes it possible to work carefully
over areas especially where continuous and even tones are desired to give the
illusion of space.
Flowers
Flowers deserve a spontaneous approach, I think. Flowers are colorful and
fresh. More specifically, some plants are delicate and others are bold, some
soft and quiet, others loud and bright. A few well-chosen colors in a few fast
brushstrokes can capture the essence and portray each flower's characteristics.
That is what I attempt to do in painting my flowers, as well as the fruits and
vegetables in my still lifes. The watercolor medium gives a light touch to the
subject in this case. An oil painting can be more dramatic. More colors can be
layered on each other in an oil, adding a richness to the finished painting.
Still Lifes
A nicely arranged still life is a joy to paint. The colors and various shapes
all play with each other. Negative space is an important part of an interesting
painting. That is the area around the object, for instance the background or
the table top. Often I make the negative space define the edge of the vase,
fruit or flower. Objects and background become a pattern of engaging pieces,
with color and form playing an important role in the finished painting. The
freshness of watercolor adds to the excitement of a still life. A painting in
oil, on the other hand, can be worked on for a longer period of time, and a
more controlled look is usually created.
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