Some of my fondest memories of playing outside as a kid were the times we went into the woods. The coolness under the trees on a hot summer’s day, the play of light and shadow as sunshine was filtered by the leaves, and the subtle shades of green, brown, and gray against the blue background of the sky all became deeply entrenched in my subconscious. Consequently, when I first came to do archeology at Fishtown in 1974, I immediately felt “at home” while staying in a tent at the Lee farm above the North Fork of the Skagit River. The next year, when I went to Ozette, this feeling of being in my element really took hold. Eighteen months of living out on the wilds of Washington’s Pacific coast was a truly life changing experience. That time forever fixed my love for the natural world around me. It is only fitting that I turn to nature as the subject and inspiration for my painting.
Leigh and I have been so lucky to have been able to live in rural Washington State for the past 35 years—first out at Neah Bay on the coast, and now in La Conner and in the Skagit Valley. We have been able to enjoy the beauty and serenity of nature on a daily basis and to adjust to the rhythms of the seasons and the tides. And in response, I have felt the need to communicate this spiritual affinity for our natural surroundings through the medium of painting on cedar. Painting on cedar, feeling the grain as it interacts with my pencil or brush, and smelling the wonderful and distinct aroma that cedar can emit acts to connect me to the once monumental tree from which the wood originated. This awareness requires that I “do justice” to the wood by trying to design and paint its surface to the best of my abilities. This love of and affinity for nature is the reason why I am so influenced (and indebted) to Northwest Coast Native, Celtic, and Japanese art in all that I attempt to do.
Nature was the primary focus of Northwest Coast Native art and it acted as a way to connect the world in which people lived with the supernatural realm. Artistic motifs of specific animals were associated with individual families and as such were owned by them. Only those families had the right to display those motifs, and they were interwoven with the family’s names, songs, and dances. Thus, a strong spiritual connection exists between Northwest Coast Native art and the natural world. Similarly, natural motifs in Celtic art corresponded to early pagan and later Christian spirituality. Celtic entrelac, knot-work and spirals symbolized the interconnectedness of both the natural and the spiritual worlds.
Leigh and I have been so lucky to have been able to live in rural Washington State for the past 35 years—first out at Neah Bay on the coast, and now in La Conner and in the Skagit Valley. We have been able to enjoy the beauty and serenity of nature on a daily basis and to adjust to the rhythms of the seasons and the tides. And in response, I have felt the need to communicate this spiritual affinity for our natural surroundings through the medium of painting on cedar. Painting on cedar, feeling the grain as it interacts with my pencil or brush, and smelling the wonderful and distinct aroma that cedar can emit acts to connect me to the once monumental tree from which the wood originated. This awareness requires that I “do justice” to the wood by trying to design and paint its surface to the best of my abilities. This love of and affinity for nature is the reason why I am so influenced (and indebted) to Northwest Coast Native, Celtic, and Japanese art in all that I attempt to do.
Nature was the primary focus of Northwest Coast Native art and it acted as a way to connect the world in which people lived with the supernatural realm. Artistic motifs of specific animals were associated with individual families and as such were owned by them. Only those families had the right to display those motifs, and they were interwoven with the family’s names, songs, and dances. Thus, a strong spiritual connection exists between Northwest Coast Native art and the natural world. Similarly, natural motifs in Celtic art corresponded to early pagan and later Christian spirituality. Celtic entrelac, knot-work and spirals symbolized the interconnectedness of both the natural and the spiritual worlds.
KINGFISHER’S PRIZE 2014--detail
The Japanese have also had a long established connection to the natural world, going back to their animistic beliefs which were later incorporated into Shintoism. Mountains, streams, waterfalls, and even rocks are the embodiment of spirits and are revered as objects of prayer. In particular, the Japanese enjoy and celebrate the changing of the seasons and have learned to embrace this natural cycle. From viewing the cherry blossoms in the spring to seeing the brilliant colors of maple leaves as they change in the autumn, the seasons of Japan are enjoyed by all.
CHERRY BLOSSOM SPRING 2012--detail
Today, nature is under attack from all aspects of modern society. As most people live in ever-growing urban areas, we are quickly losing our connections to the natural world. One of the greatest dangers to nature is the loss of a sense of spirituality in many people. If we don’t have a deeply rooted spiritual connection to nature, then we will not have the will to make the hard choices needed to protect her.
Through the power of DNA, life itself is very plastic and has the built-in ability to quickly change to meet changing physical conditions. The earth’s first great environmental catastrophe occurred billions of years ago brought on by the creation of an oxygen-rich atmosphere. However this catastrophe eventually paved the way for most of the complex life forms we cherish today. In the future life will continue to thrive on Earth regardless of what we humans do. However, if we don’t act, we just might not be there to witness and glory in it. All we can do, as a society and as individuals, is to make the effort to correct this imbalance. Thus, in my own way and through my paintings, I want to show a symbolic representation of the beauty that exists in nature. As a painter, I will continue to celebrate the beauty and diversity of nature and to celebrate those cultures and artists whose reverence for nature continues to inspire.
Through the power of DNA, life itself is very plastic and has the built-in ability to quickly change to meet changing physical conditions. The earth’s first great environmental catastrophe occurred billions of years ago brought on by the creation of an oxygen-rich atmosphere. However this catastrophe eventually paved the way for most of the complex life forms we cherish today. In the future life will continue to thrive on Earth regardless of what we humans do. However, if we don’t act, we just might not be there to witness and glory in it. All we can do, as a society and as individuals, is to make the effort to correct this imbalance. Thus, in my own way and through my paintings, I want to show a symbolic representation of the beauty that exists in nature. As a painter, I will continue to celebrate the beauty and diversity of nature and to celebrate those cultures and artists whose reverence for nature continues to inspire.
SWALLOWS DANCE 2015
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