MPARDUE
When I'm walking through a forest landscape, I find myself centered and inspired. These unique moments drift my way, and I feel a connection to the infinite that is inherently ineffable. I want to bring this feeling out of the woods - I want to transmit the sense of expansive connection that is stirring even from a mere moment in place and time in the forest - even from many of the things we often quickly pass by. In my oil paintings, I invite others to feel a new kind of personal connection through art, and hopefully a new kind of connection with the groves and forest systems surrounding us. I feel, however naively, that our future lies in the unadulterated, unspoiled forest - if we can learn to do less management and more mindful observation, we can immerse ourselves in forest of unpredictable beauty. Breath in, and connect.
FOREST
"The clearest way into the universe is through a forest wilderness" - John Muir
The forest and I are inseparable, I was born in it. This collection of work brings out the connection that I feel and places that moment inside on a wall for it to resonate the wildness into daily life.
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A hot spring day near the lake shore in the Champlain Valley. A few cycles of spring flowers have peeked and reseeded, now, it’s the apple blossoms that at their height. The shadows of the fresh leaves and the whist-full petals give a mush need reprieve from the ever energetic sun. A light breeze make a failing attempt to push over the dandy lion puffs that stick out from a grass that has yet to receive its first mowing. (44.240882,-73.296842) 38" x 38"
On a hill overlooking the farm barn @ Shelburne Farms is a garden of vegetables and flowers. A large patch of sunflowers bob up and down in the wind “looking” around and at each other over watching a group of verbena. Human time falls short to the dance of the sunflowers. 12" x 12" $500
At the edge of a field un-mowed, full of weed husks and seed pods, a birch stands at the edge of a small wooded area. A side path darts under the yellow tree canopy and continues to meander toward wooded forts. (44.391064, -73.260270) 18" x 12" $600
A hot spring day near the lake shore in the Champlain Valley. A few cycles of spring flowers have peeked and reseeded, now, it’s the apple blossoms that at their height. The shadows of the fresh leaves and the whist-full petals give a mush need reprieve from the ever energetic sun. A light breeze make a failing attempt to push over the dandy lion puffs that stick out from a grass that has yet to receive its first mowing. (44.240882,-73.296842) 38" x 38"
FIELD
"Earth laughs in Flowers" - Emerson
Grids, human patterns, and cultivation, the push back at the perceived chaos. Our sense of order blemished with weeds that sneak up between posts, rocks and fences. A fleeting moment of control.
WATER
"If there is magic on this planet it is contained in water" - Loren Eiseley
Water is Life. We live and yearn to be with this element. Cool liquid water is a mecca for animals and human civilization.
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During an ice storm in February, Falling water freezes instantly to all things encrusting all in crystal ice. Hiking thru a forest of crystal the wind cracks the ice in a high pitch as I enter into my neighbors frozen goldenrod field. Birch trees bend, but do not break from the strain of ice, bowing with there crowns frozen to the ground. Even this delicate fleeting moment in time feels like it is encased in ice. Woods of Webster rd, Shelburne 2017 (44.386616, -73.213423) 12" x 12" $600
During an ice storm in February, Falling water freezes instantly to all things encrusting all in crystal ice. Hiking thru a forest of crystal the wind cracks the ice in a high pitch as I enter into my neighbors frozen goldenrod field. Birch trees bend, but do not break from the strain of ice, bowing with there crowns frozen to the ground. Even this delicate fleeting moment in time feels like it is encased in ice. Woods of Webster rd, Shelburne 2017 (44.386616, -73.213423) 12" x 12" $600
Old Iron sits pushing through time instead of soil, echoing the old saying “ They don’t make them like they used too” Layers of snow blanket the field punching down the tall weed husks, only the most hearty weeds poke through the icy top layer. 16" x 20" $750
During an ice storm in February, Falling water freezes instantly to all things encrusting all in crystal ice. Hiking thru a forest of crystal the wind cracks the ice in a high pitch as I enter into my neighbors frozen goldenrod field. Birch trees bend, but do not break from the strain of ice, bowing with there crowns frozen to the ground. Even this delicate fleeting moment in time feels like it is encased in ice. Woods of Webster rd, Shelburne 2017 (44.386616, -73.213423) 12" x 12" $600
SNOW
"There was a brief silence, I think I heard snow falling" -Erich Segal
Slumber, sleep, rest, and dormancy, the environment waits.
