The River Paintings

Harmony on the River

Andrea's View

KKEY Building

Broadway Bridge

I prefer painting landscapes on location whenever possible. During the winter months I use photographs and sketches for reference. The first group of paintings (1 through 14) was done shortly after my return to Oregon. They were inspired by the Rivers and streams of the Northwest. These paintings were shown at the Meridian Gallery in San Francisco "Rivers Remembered"; and at the Margo Jacobson Gallery in Portland, OR "The Garden Series".

The Landscape Paintings

A traditional landscape is usually peaceful and contemplative rather than out of balance or provocative. I think this is what makes the landscape easy to live with and why it has been so popular throughout history. But the land itself is seldom quiet or resolved. It is constantly changing and unpredictable. Both extremes are interesting to me at different times: the peaceful empty stage and the unpredictable. The ideal, I think is to give landscapes peacefulness without losing the restless and constantly changing character of the natural world.

Works on Paper

I've always been partial to drawing. It is the least cumbersome medium to work with and my style is best suited to its surface. I began by working in the streets and rooftops in the heart of the city, but as time passed I discovered that I was drawn more to the industrial architecture of overpasses, bridges and warehouses. When forced by the weather to move into the studio, I continued working the same themes and mediums.

 

If, as I've said, the typical landscape painting tends to be contemplative, then the paintings of a city which are inspired by the disparate energy and hectic imprint of people tend to be more energetic with constantly changing perspectives. This insight, plus my work in film animation led me to design paintings with multiple views of the same scene. See "Autumn City", "Broadway Bridge" and "West Side Broadway Bridge".

 

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