The Role of Memory in My Scotland Paintings
When I was working on my Scotland series I was using photos from the trip as references, but I was also using my memories from the trip to enhance the pieces into art that wasn’t just a one-to-one replica of a photo, but also an expressive landscape painting that could encourage an emotional response by the viewer and would remind me of my memories of the trip. To achieve this I intentionally focused on specific aspects of each piece, such as color, pattern, and how to literally depict some of the scenes that I was inspired by.
Highland Pastoral
Fluid Acrylics on Paper
9.5 x 8.75, 2023
In my painting Highland Pastoral I knew I wanted to depict the adorable Highland cows, but I wanted to make sure the final painting expressed the vibrant colors of the sky and landscape as well as highlighting the ochre color of the cow. This required taking some liberties with the saturation of the colors and how the painting was laid out. Ultimately I think I communicated the bright and beautiful colors of the day with the approachable quality of the cow.
Highland Landscape with Cows
Fluid Acrylics on Paper
7 7/8 x 7 7/8, 2023
In Highland Landscape with Cows I wanted to express the idyllic mood this scene gave me, so when I was painting it I gave the colors a bit more warmth and detail to the pasture and mountain-scape. This decision allowed me to communicate a tone to the viewer that would intrigue and draw them closer, perhaps wanting to immerse themselves into the quiet calm of that scene as I did.
Boats in the Bay at Low Tide
Fluid Acrylics on Paper
8 x 8, 2024
In Boats in the Bay at Low Tide I wanted to give a quick glimpse of that harbor from that specific moment. When we were exploring the walking path that bordered the harbor I was struck by the vibrant golden color of the seabed that was revealed by the tide moving out. When I was working on this piece I made sure to focus on color and saturation, so the scene would be portrayed at its best, and so I could relay some of the same feelings I had when I experienced it in real life.
Whether an artist is using realism or abstraction to create paintings I think it is impossible not to let memory and emotion affect how the painting is created, especially if they are painting from a real lived memory. Being able to utilize these thoughts and experiences helps to be able to exhibit a piece of work that has the ability to impress and attract others and create conversation.