A Sense of Place in the Appalachian Wilderness
An enduring subject matter in the midst of transformation.
The endurance of the Appalachians as a haven and hideout. The mountains have seen cycles of transformation in society.
Starting with the classics and seeing where it goes.
In 2024, there’s a foreboding atmosphere despite the timeless concept of landscape painting. What will this year bring to the locality?
A sense of place
— my transformation of what that means now that I’ve lived in Appalachia longer than any place in my life. (home)
— what it means in the contemporary and the Anthropocene. How will it change?
Migration to Appalachia (one of many ideal locations for climate change refugees/migrants)
Crowding —> maximalist —> an abundance of color and form
Wayfaring Beacon, 18”x24”, acrylic on wood panel, 2024
The build up of rocks and vegetation alongside the Pigeon River gives a maximalist sense of nature in terms of its design. Crowded, but just enough room to breathe.
Using color as a means to bring a joyous, hopeful aesthetic, despite it’s connotations of camp. Hope for the future despite the changes to come.
Referring to the sense of place, influenced by childhood. Appalachia is my new sense of place.
Color depicting the utopia, in the perspective of climate change refugees (bright, romantic)
Finding comfort in the “picturesque;” a way to tame the wildness for human understanding. What will this view look like in 30 years?
Final result of one of the phthalo blue underpaintings. The warmth of the green shade of blue is a good base for the golden hour. Like the last bit of energy before turning in for the day.
Played on translucent pigments to give movement and a sense of breathing.
Flat head brushes used to retain structure to the forms.
Created this painting without an underpainting to get a more delicate sensibility, remarking on the fragility of the clouds.
The addition of the line of light cutting horizontally across the scape was an instinct, deriving from my love of contemporary and minimalistic design, Japanese woodblock prints, and a science fiction or cinematic flair. The landscape transforms from timeless to “futuristic.”