Poppies of the Valley, oil on canvas, 18x46
As with every show I do, there are always new desires to interpret the land in new and dynamic ways. Often times it’s a matter of technique or maybe, as with this show, the format or canvas size like “Hillside Trees”, “ Harvest Light”, or “Poppies of the Valley”, all horizontal shapes, because it’s about the breath and scope of the scene I want to depict, very similar to a panoramic. For a painting to come alive, there needs to be movement not only of color and composition, but how one looks at it. With the horizontal format, the eye naturally scans back and forth.
Pond Reflections, Early Spring, oil on canvas, 40x40
Interpreting water is also a new desire in my work like in “Pond Reflections, Early Spring”. As I shared for last year’s show, these pieces are about breaking up the line, the foundation in all art. It’s impressionism yes, but I’ve brought in other elements like cubism in how I arrange the colors. It’s again about movement and a sense of aliveness with all the parts, the light, the ripples, the wind, the shadows. in the end, I want to pay homage to the land around us, oftentimes hidden from our awareness, and bring to life its beauty.
Look forward to seeing you at the show and thanks for reading!
Matthew