Artist Statement:
"It's a formidable task to try to capture the essence of a scene while light is moving and changing the composition every few minutes. One is forced to distill it into a cohesive, simplified design very quickly. I see musical rhythm and movement as well as drama and theater in landscape. When sunlight breaks through the clouds it becomes a warm, wonderful spotlight moving silently across a stage. I love being there! It has been a spiritual experience for me, one that I value highly for the personal growth it has brought to my life.
"It is a blessing to live in Utah at the base of the Rocky Mountains. It means that you can have a wonderful variety of types of landscapes, from desert to high mountains, at your fingertips, within a short driving distance.
In the coastal areas of the country and in Europe, what you see is softened and grayed slightly by humidity. Because of the arid atmosphere in the west, the colors seem brighter, the shadows stronger and the sky lighter. Sometimes there is a harsh reality in it. It is generally not a soft place but it can be dramatic and even theatrical.
The western landscape is such an imposing presence in the lives of those who live here that it is difficult to avoid being influenced by it. It is only natural that there are fewer paintings of closed-in interiors here. These open, brilliant spaces affect the way people think about the world in general. It is my passion in life to try to capture some of it to keep for myself.
"The site of the painting is about 50 miles away from my home, in
the high Alpine fields near the top of our beautiful, breathtaking mountains.
Over the past several years, this area has become one of my favorite places to paint. I wait anxiously for the wildflower season to begin and make plans to be available to drop everything, pick up my gear, load my trusty truck (which has a customized shell for my painting) and leave whenever the weather is looking good. This means being prepared - well organized with an efficient gear, and with the right tools to face unforeseen things (wind, bugs, rain, heat, cold, curious animals and people — at times, scary animals and people.
"You have to be addicted to the experience to want to work this hard, but as soon as the work is started, aches and pains fall away and you are off on a magic adventure — a dialogue between artist and nature — where you never know what you will discover. It is a great learning and healing time.
"To be a plein-air artist is very exciting and challenging. Sometimes you are handed a quiet pearly scene or a dark brooding day or an unexpected burst of color. The dialogue and chemistry may be unpredictable but it is always enlightening. The unknown possibilities are what make a direct confrontation with nature so compelling.
It is important to approach the experience with a positive state of mind with little concern about whether or not the piece will sell or whether or not it will be a completed painting. I always work with the idea that I will have a painting that is 95% complete, but if only a gestural beginning is obtained outdoors it is still very helpful in the studio.
"Working outdoors has been the best thing I could ever have done for my art. By forcing yourself out of safe confinement and away from mechanical resources, you are alone with the pure experience. Growth is absolutely essential for every artist. Any new insights are hard won but definitely worth it!
"This painting was done after 3 other paintings of the area the previous week, and my
mind was primed for a larger painting. The day was quiet and fragrant with hillsides carpeted with a wonderful variety of kinds and colors of wildflowers. The sun was gentle, and the sound of brook and birds was soothing. It was exciting just to be there.
"Sometimes while working outside I am shocked at what comes out of 'the dialogue' - things I wouldn't or couldn't have done or thought with more deliberate calculation. I view myself as a translator, not a creator. It is as if nature slowly unfolds her secrets to your mind as you spend long hours observing and seeking to understand. I believe that there are deep intuitive powers that can be released in an artist's mind when the circumstances are right. It may not be possible to actually put more than a small fraction of it on paper or canvas, but it changes your life forever: Outdoors you see more fully, especially while focusing on the same scene for several hours as you paint. Colors with beautiful nuances appear where you didn't notice them before.
No photo can give you that. Painting anything from life is the 'real thing.'
This painting was a way to rejoice for me. It cannot begin to measure up to the wonder of such a scene, but I hope that someone might glimpse a portion of what I felt that sweet, peaceful day."
- Marilee Campbell
Originally pastel. Printed on Somerset Velvet 100% cotton textured paper.