Immerse yourself in nature. Bask in sunset’s golden light.

“Now, resist the urge to instagram it.” (author unknown)

During a mountain run in the glow of sunrise last week that quote came to mind. I wasn’t about to post my immediate surroundings on instagram.

Actually, I have never owned a cell phone.

Thou a camera is a great tool for my work, I often explore outdoors without one. Even a camera may be distracting, inhibiting us from fully absorbing experience.

~Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better. Albert Einstein

Being immersed in nature, minus technology, improves our creativity and problem solving skills by 50%. ( From Creativity in the Wild: Improving Creative reasoning through immersion in natural settings)

~The wild places are where we began. When they end, so do we. David Brower

In the work I do, observing with captivated attention is paramount. It’s portraying an intimate human experience akin with nature.

When it comes to being emotionally connected, I wear my heart on my sleeve.

Landscape Impressionism concept is “the impression of”. This style of painting is not illustrative, say, compared to a lengthy detailed essay. Impressionism expresses mood, drama and movement, similar to simplified bullet points ‘conveying the key points’.

“I can breathe in your paintings, and within them. Some artists paint tightly, like they are wound up,” an exhibit attendee observed last week. As an impressionist painter, it’s important to understand what the landscape offers, it’s essence, while weeding out the ‘noise’.

My friend shares a sentiment with her young boys. “We are given a glimpse what is around us all the time when we witness rainbows. Certain elements make them visible, but they are always there.”  It’s similar to what I hope to achieve with art.

~Nature always wears the colors of the spirit. Ralph Waldo Emerson

Gazing at my research for Wild Sage, a client remarked, “That’s a very drab photo, how did you get this painting from it?”

The truth is, I have stood on the hillside both at sunrise and sunset.

The camera may not have captured it’s glory, but my heart did.

P.S ~ Some ask why I don’t put people in my paintings. Actually, I do.

I put you there.

~Special thanks to my nephew & brother for their wonderfully supportive help during the exhibit & my little western tour. All new work available for purchase.