Through November 30, Aimee Erickson and Scott Gellatly are the subject of a show at Brian Marki Fine Art in Portland, Oregon.
“This summer I spent more time than ever painting outdoors on location — and what locations!,” says Erickson. “Thanks to the communities that host plein air festivals, I found myself in some beautiful locales. I find that certain conditions have more appeal for me than others: early morning; dusk; mutable subjects like water; backlighting; and the single well-lit object, which has long held my interest. It has occurred to me that the clearer my idea, and the more simply I can state it, the more appealing I find the resulting painting.”
“Wetland in Spring,” by Scott Gellatly, oil on panel, 9 x 15 in. Courtesy of Brian Marki Fine Arts, Portland, Oregon
Gellatly’s paintings are from his recent “Native Shores and Distant Sands” series, which includes paintings of scenes in the American Southwest and the Pacific Northwest. “The paintings in this exhibition depicting the Northwest focus on what makes this area so dynamic — the many intersections between land and water,” says Gellatly. “From thin sloughs to the Pacific Ocean, these paintings showcase more intimate scenes compared to my usual vast skyscapes. The small plein air works completed on site aim to capture this play between vegetation, land, and water. The larger studio paintings, such as ‘A Walk Along Water,’ work to both simplify and exaggerate the experience.
“A Walk Along Water,” by Scott Gellatly, oil on panel, 18 x 45 in. Studio painting.
Courtesy of Brian Marki Fine Arts, Portland, Oregon
“Carmel Beach at Dusk,” by Aimee Erickson, 2015, oil, 11 x 14 in. Courtesy of Brian Marki Fine Arts, Portland, Oregon
“The more subtle color palette of the American Southwest offers its own unique qualities. The violets, pinks, and yellows that get bleached out by the strong midday light put on a display of arresting intensity during morning and evening light.”
“Yamhill Oak,” by Scott Gellatly, oil on panel, 6 x 10 in. Courtesy of Brian Marki Fine Arts, Portland, Oregon
Gellatly adds, “Reporting what the landscape looks like is the job of the photographer. My goal is to capture an authentic response through paint — to distill a scene down to its essential elements.”
“Between the Storms,” by Scott Gellatly, oil on panel, 6 x 10 in. Courtesy of Brian Marki Fine Arts, Portland, Oregon
For more information on Brian Marki Fine Art, visit the gallery’s website.
