Personal Statement
The focus of my painting for the past eight years has been to express my personal experience of nature, describing both the visual elements within the landscape and feelings within myself that caused me to stop and “see”. These experiences could be as simple as birch branches dancing across the sky, and clouds stretching deep into space, or the patterning of tree shadows sliding across the winter snow.

My painting’s brushwork—its physical texture and movement is a direct record of my energy in perceiving and creating the image. The color, light and space of my paintings describe in a straightforward manner the outward experience while the brushwork describes the inward experience of the landscape. My paintings “read” differently at varied distances. Close viewing of my work will reveal abstract swirls of fluid layered paint and the imprint of the brush upon the physical paint. As the viewer steps back, however, the image of time and place which one gets when viewing my work at a distance as well as the abstract, emotive energy one sees when viewing my work up close. Having both experiences conveys for me more closely the direct experience of the place which inspired the work. The work is complete.

Alfred Sisley wrote that “every painting reflects a place where the artist fell in love.” This is true of my work.

View Steven Gordon’s Website