Earthly Abstractions

Landscapes hold a special appeal. Living not far from forests and rivers, I’m grateful I can easily be among the beauty of nature. With population growth and urban sprawl, more open space is disappearing. I worry what beautiful area will disappear next.

For many years, I've painted realistically, working to capture a fleeting moment. I’ve enjoyed using watercolor and oil to portray the dappled light and deep shadows of a forest trail, or to depict the translucency of rose petals.

Like many artists, I feel an inner need to expand my creativity. Taking my love of landscapes a step or two further, I’m now working more abstractly with acrylic paint and mediums. By spraying water and using my fingers, I move poured paint about the canvas to develop textures and watch images evolve from the surface as the paint settles and dries. I allow the paint to flow through me evoking memory of a peaceful morning or a glimpse of what the world might look like under the water’s surface. I'm no longer as concerned if the painting is really an actual place, if it evokes a feeling of place, then I'm achieving my intent.

All is not immediately apparent in my abstracts. These paintings reveal themselves through study.

Nancy Ann Rice 2010