©2010 Patrice Erickson, FIELD AT SUNSET, oil on canvas panel, 20 x 24 inches
ARTIST STATEMENT
My oil landscape paintings capture the wonderment and tranquility that I experience in the natural world. They are dominated by magnificently colored sunsets and sunrises stretching over quiet, undisturbed fields, meadows, and marshes. Most of the paintings depict my surroundings in Michigan, however in many of my works the location can appear to be almost anywhere.
My painting technique begins with a monochromatic underpainting followed by many applications of color layers known as glazes. This process, applied with brushes and painting knives, gives the landscapes depth and richness of color and luminosity. The roots of this method go back to the Renaissance and are essential to how I develop a convincing sense of distance and atmosphere.
Patrice Erickson – August 2010