ABSTRACT REPRESENTATION
After 20 years of painting traditional landscapes, I felt a need to push my work into a more abstract approach. After much experimentation, what felt right to me was taking what I had learned from years of representational painting and transition that into imagery that is still recognizable but simplified graphically to its essential elements, somewhat like symbols or iconographic images. So it is not, in fact, non-objective abstraction in that it does retain a recognizable, objective reference. Maybe what I am doing is abstract representation. This allows me to explore the essential elements of painting without relying on skillful rendering. The paintings are less of a display of skill and more a display of the essence of these phenomena of Nature—getting more inside the subject. This is my best shot at explaining what I do in words. The closer truth is seeing the paintings in person
LANDSCAPE PAINTINGS
On Exhibit at U of M Morris Gallery
I was surprised to receive an email from Jess Larson, Professor of Studio Art and Curator of the Edward J. and Helen Jane Morrison Gallery at the University of Minnesota, Morris. She was initiating a summer exhibition program and asked if I would like to show my work there. My answer was, of course, yes! The main level of the gallery was to display works from the U of M Morris collection and I would have the mezzanine level to exhibit my work. The exhibit opening was just a few weeks away, so based on the floor plan for the mezzanine gallery, I selected eight pieces I thought would work well together in that space. Christine and I went to Morris after the exhibit was hung to see how they looked. Jess very kindly met us at the gallery. We were more than pleased with how they were displayed and how the great white space of the gallery gave the paintings such life.
The exhibit runs from June 6, 2023, to August 1, 2023. The Morrison Gallery is located on the main floor of the Humanities and Fine Arts Building.
The gallery hours are:
9 a.m.- 4 p.m. Monday through Friday
Saturday by appointment
For information on parking, etc. call U of M Morris information at 888-866-3382.
Abstract
Landscape Studies
These studies are oil paintings using cold wax medium from the Big Stone Series. It is difficult to capture the subtlety of the values and hues of these paintings. Reproducing them through photography and then computer monitor images looses a lot that is best seen “person-to-painting”.
Larger Abstract Landscape Paintings
These are oil paintings using cold wax medium from the Big Stone Series including Foggy Grove, Prairie Sky, Cloud Piece and Across the Lake. Again, it is difficult to capture the subtlety of the values and hues of these paintings in a reproduction.
Traditional Landscape Paintings
These are oil paintings on canvas and panels, ranging in size from small to large, with a section of Paintings on Paper. These are the last of my traditional landscape paintings that will be available and are priced at 50% off retail.