En Plein Air to En Plein Objects
Traveling through the same landscape in western France that inspired the original Impressionists motivated me to attempt en plein air painting. A much deeper connection to the environment was made than if I had just snapped a photograph, it coerced me to be more flexible and forced me to crystallize what is essential in my painting practice. Which then inspired me to move backwards in the art history timeline to the Dutch still life masters who delighted in the simple everyday images and objects. Studying the classical shapes of curves, planes, transparencies and reflections in the everyday objects around my house was the perfect way to re-acquaint myself with oils.