Plein air painting is the best way for me to fully engage in the moment. This process of painting what I see allows me to truly dive into my creativity. By focusing on the painting and the environment around me I am able to slow down and block out the chaos of the rest of the world. You may wonder what chaos I am referring to… Does to-do lists, due dates, full schedules, social issues, politics, relationships, constant notifications and money sound familiar to you? My work documents how beautiful our Earth is when we take the time to study what is right in front of us. My mental reflection during this practice has ultimately allowed me to deal with my anxiety, depression and everyday struggles.
I use quick gestural movements with pen on paper or oil on canvas to capture a scene before the mood changes or it gets too dark to see. This is used to then create a more detailed rendering in the studio that is slow and thoughtful with every brush stroke. So often I find myself in my own chaos, in this uneasy pace, whether it is rushing from here to there, to do the next thing or be the next someone. I find myself so focused on everyone else or the world’s standards that I lose track of who I am. When I create, I slow down, breathe, and remind myself that my time here on earth is far too short to not enjoy the beauty God has created.
I use quick gestural movements with pen on paper or oil on canvas to capture a scene before the mood changes or it gets too dark to see. This is used to then create a more detailed rendering in the studio that is slow and thoughtful with every brush stroke. So often I find myself in my own chaos, in this uneasy pace, whether it is rushing from here to there, to do the next thing or be the next someone. I find myself so focused on everyone else or the world’s standards that I lose track of who I am. When I create, I slow down, breathe, and remind myself that my time here on earth is far too short to not enjoy the beauty God has created.