Grey Cube Gallery proudly presents the first Landscapes online art show for the month of September 2020. The show encompassed a range of artistic styles and mediums (photography, digital, mixed media, collage, oil on canvas, acrylics, watercolor, pastel, ink, monoprint, crayon and gouache). Each submission has been judged based on the following elements of artistic expression: orginality and quality of art, overall design, creativity, interpretation of the theme, demonstration of artistic ability and usage of medium. Out of all entries, 112 artworks were shortlisted for inclusion in the show. The competition attracted entries from many countries accros the world: USA, Canada, Taiwan, Australia, Brazil, Germany, United Kingdom, Russia, Japan, Austria, Denmark and Isreal. Enjoy the show and thank you for expressing an interest in our competition.

I am interested in creating a visual discourse around the idea of land stewardship. Because of the different perspective that each individual brings to an experience with the environment, there remains a pressing imperative to find a common vocabulary. To me, this dialogue hinges on a departure from the idea of nature as a commodity or resource and begins with a return to wild beauty and a sense of place. We are all a product of landscape and I believe that our survival as a species depends on the preservation of eco systems, clean waterways and the production of healthful food. My paintings remind viewers of these places that nourish us. The inclusion of geometric and linear forms recall individual perspective and human impact on the land. Having grown up in Washington, I am mostly inspired by northwest colors and textures be it a day spent on the coast, the color of fall leaves or even a crack in the sidewalk that becomes a river in paint. I work in acrylic, but I also build real texture through the inclusion of art paper, junk mail, plant matter, loose-weave cloth and thread. The constructive nature of combining paint and collage appeals to me. The layering of paint, natural and man-made materials becomes for me a metaphorical rebuilding of the land.

For my entire life I have been passionate about fostering my relationship with the natural world and have lived with the mantra "if you don't explore you never discover”. That lifestyle has provided many moments of awakening and insight, and has taken me to diverse locales to explore and wander capturing the moments of wonder and awe through photography. I have met many persons along the way, and appreciated exchanging views, ideas, and perspectives with others. What I have learned is that art, culture, and nature go hand-in-hand, and through everyone's actions we can enhance humanity and its relation with the natural world for generations to come. I feel that this opportunity to exhibit my work at the Grey Cube Gallery is not a coincidence but a serendipitous moment. It has presented itself so that I may grow as a photographer and so that I may nurture my artistic expression to inspire others and invoke emotional change.

Engaged in arts for many years and attempting different artistic techniques I finally ended up with mixed media, painting with watercolor and gouache with his enormous wide range of possibilities it offers. Since then I have created and continuously do lots of little “illusory worlds” which invite the observer to take a close look.

I have always loved the scenery of the great outdoors and living on a relatively small but beautiful Island is truly inspirational. Of course being surrounded by the sea is wonderful, with a never ending array of coastal views, harbour scenes and the ever changing mood of sea and sky there is truly no end of subject matter. We Islanders are also blessed with a huge diversity of landscape from ancient woodland and chalk down-land to salt marsh and everything in between. I endeavour to portray the natural world to the best of my ability hoping to give the viewer a sense of the beauty as I see it, both here on my Island home and in the world at large. I first saw John Constable’s ‘Haywain’ when I was just 11 years old, the sheer size and beauty of this painting and the portrayal of trees and sky in paint was awe inspiring to me and have loved both the landscape and landscape paintings ever since. I work mostly in oils as with this medium I seem to be able to convey at least a small amount of the affinity I have with the natural world whether it be landscape or seascape and am happiest and enthralled when creating at my easel.