Susan Whitley, Artist Statement
Why does the act of looking at a scenic vista affect us emotionally?
There is an undeniable attraction for humans to observe and absorb some sense of peace or awe from a dramatic landscape.
I am interested in portraying the power of nature through the lens of the human emotional spectrum. It is this connection between seeing a grand landscape as a singular person and gaining energy from the vast scope of natural phenomena as well as the history of those who have felt this same way in years past that inspires my artwork.
A thought such as the following runs through my mind: “has a woman who lived centuries ago, viewed dramatic clouds over this same rugged mountain range, and similarly felt a sense of awe replace her anxiety?”
While my work has obvious visual references to landscape elements,
I enjoy and crave the spontaneity of abstraction, unplanned mark-making, and collaged elements, such as second-hand vintage papers.
