Painting Seascapes And Landscapes
I think it is important when I paint to try and give the viewer the feeling of being there experiencing the movement and the light, to embrace the impressionists aim. From seascapes, landscapes and more recently Lego and block art, my aim is to transport the viewer to an alternate reality through my paintings, to see that reality from a different perspective.
I have recently made a development to my landscape and seascape painting by adding thicker layers of paint I am finding a more abstract approach is give more depth and action to the canvas. This is a looser way to paint but I feel the subject matter still shows through and as with seascapes the movement of water and waves incorporates well into the movement of the paint.
The beauty of painting is I can but viewers in positions that they might not normally see. The viewer gets to see and experience something that they might not ever experience in reality. An example of this is my most recent “sea level” painting; where I put the viewer into the water in front of an approaching wave. It is typical of a view that only a surfer would experience paddling over the shoulder of a wave, a favorite seascape of mine.
I don’t tend to go looking for things to paint, the subject matter seems to find me; I might be sitting on a ski lift at the local ski resort, paddling out at my favorite surf break or maybe there is just a unique cloud formation one evening. It is these unique short term experiences that are etched on my brain like a snapshot that I try to replicate onto the canvas, giving the viewer the same experience as what I have seen with the same feeling and passion. It is because of this painting from within that makes my paintings so personal and that is what I am attempting to give the viewer.
I am fortunate in my geographic location, that the Northwest Pacific has many seascapes and landscapes to paint. There are inspiring skyscapes, dramatic coastlines and regal mountains all of which need to recreated onto canvas. I endeavor to recreate the beauty that is around us and add my own sense of passion to bring the paintings alive.
