Heather Painting

My focus is landscape painting in oils; capturing the beauty of the natural world. I explore the impact of light on color and shape and mood. Often my subjects highlight the brilliance of nature to inspire reverence in the viewer. I began painting while living in Bermuda, inspired by the brilliant colors of the ocean and the cloudscapes. Scuba diving in the deep turquoise waters was like visiting an alien undersea world as a guest or voyeur. These feelings of alienation and awe experienced were instrumental in focusing my eye on the natural world. I experiment with the emotions inspired by color and form in the landscape. I focus on the contrast of the ethereal sky, with the firmness of the land and the sparkling fluidity of the sea. At times my concerns about the environment show through and the images can become a little dark, slightly foreboding. Working in my studio to allow the time and layering of material necessary to capture the color and detail important to my work, I begin composing with photographs or from memory. I will depart from these by enhancing colors, simplifying forms, combining views to capture the essence of my subject. I grew up in Ohio, taught to paint by my father who was a professional painter. I studied mathematics and architectural design at M.I.T and received a masters degree in Architecture from Yale University. I have exhibited in the mid-Atlantic region, Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Washington, and Bermuda.