Having lived in Illinois all my life the local landscape is as much apart of me as the land is to a farmer. The landscapes I sculpt are flat, dark, airy, filled with groves of trees, or posts but mostly the sky and land are the main subject. It is a subject I have consistently included in my work. The ease in which a landscape becomes a simplistic form allows for investigation of material and a gestural approach. Because I can close my eyes and see the region around me I am free to explore different color combinations and compositions. The Home of the Range Series is a recent development. Based compositionally on old photos and post cards of slaughtered bison, this series explores my concern in the harm we do as humans to the landscape, animals and other people.
2024
Acrylic and Oil Paint Sticks on Canvas
20” x 30” x 1.5”
Unframed. A warm, or hot even, palette dominates the composition. A wave of yellow divides it while the red suggests depth. Depth is also enhanced with the five purple streaks. I see this painting as a landscape (on fire), but I leave the viewer to their own interpretations.
