Obviously... it's not mine. The title of this exhibition speaks to the landscape that has informed my paintings for several years. It not only refers to the frequency in which I visit the small wetland areas near my home just west of Portland, but the manner in which I've internalized these areas to provide the vehicle for my artistic practice.
Since 2019, I've maintained a practice of creating small plein air paintings at these wetland areas. This is a responsive form of journaling which allows me to capture the ever-changing landscape throughout the year. These small works have become my library of reference images to inform the compositions and design of the studio work. However, I am more interested in the fleeting, intangible qualities of the landscape - capturing the light, atmosphere, and energy of the landscape - rather than a description of the land itself. Hence, the studio works become more color-driven. Color is not the descriptor of the painting's subject matter. Color is the painting's subject matter.
This exhibition is a celebration of the wetland. It is not a single place, but an idea around taking refuge and creating habitat.
