Changes
For most of the past year, I’ve been engaged in an entirely new body of work that has absolutely nothing to do with Maine or the landscape, using different supports, a different kind of ground, applying various kinds of paint in a new way, combining elements of figuration, pattern, abstraction, etc. It might seem like a radical change, but I’m really just picking up on threads that I’ve followed on and off for over forty years – and stepping away from the landscape as a visual source. It is a response to last year’s trip to western Russia. The teacher comes when you are ready, as they say.
I’ve done a lot of experimenting with new materials and dug up some old ones (fun, with some disasters along the way – not fun), and breaking many of the “rules” I held to for landscape painting (also fun). There are few things more invigorating than experimentation when you suspect you’re not bringing anything fresh to the work. Painting feels rather mysterious again, unpredictable, and exciting.
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