Any landscape is a metaphor for the human mind and condition. It is full of textures, colors, hills and uncertain depth that are a map of how our minds are. The reality we see is just that, only something seen as perception but not anything that can be characterized as solid and unchanging. Move 1 foot to the left or right, wait 10 minutes and your entire perception of what’s in front of you changes. There is no ‘there’ there, only the perception of our mind as it tries to capture and solidify the experience. And this, for me as an artist, offers the greatest insight into what’s real – the reality of perception, of imagination – for without that there is little but paint, canvas, camera and paper.
I call these images Dog Walks because they were the result of walking my dogs every day for several years. I started to observe the amazing things that were happening in the sky and on the surface of the water. It reminded me of something Claude Monet said, “It’s on the strength of observation and reflection that one finds a way. So we must dig and delve unceasingly.” Once again my thoughts and my work are influenced by his vision. Additionally, the photographer Nancy Ori has been a big influence and support in my understanding of the key differences and similarities between painting and photography.
[pullquote author=”Claude Monet”]”It’s on the strength of observation and reflection that one finds a way. So we must dig and delve unceasingly.”[/pullquote]
