Larry Welo

My etchings and oil paintings are the product of years of looking and the desire to express what I see. My career foundation is as a printmaker. In the mid-1990s, I began working on my copper plates while on location. It was revolutionary for me. A connection occurred between the hand, eye, and brain. I would spend many hours unaware of the passage of time or anything other than what I was looking at. I love making etchings. It involves visualizing the result while working on the plate. The adventure lies in that the image is not seen until after the plates have been etched in the acid bath and the plate is printed.

As an oil painter, my approach has changed. I am still passionate about working from nature. I have rediscovered working from sketchbooks and written notes. The camera has also become a valuable tool. Oil painting has a directness to it. The results are seen as the paint is applied to the canvas.

BA Art and Biology, Luther College, Decorah, Iowa 1974