Connie Cronenwett

Statement:

  I'm primarily a landscape painter, working in either oils or pastel. My work always begins with a reaction to something visually fascinating. Some examples are: a particular quality of light dappling red pines; patterns of grasses; an evocative Lake Michigan shoreline. Beautiful scenes are rich subject matter, and a source of idealized, even romantic, beauty -- but I'm also interested in nature's chaotic aspects. There is visual interest in nature's decay, destruction, and regrowth. Grapevines, for instance, swallow trees in an enveloping gulp of green, killing their host. Yet they also secure sand dunes as they clamber in and down the slopes, forming tangles of lines, casting interesting shadows. And there - that's a painting possiblity.

I begin a landscape by painting on location. This involves sustained looking and careful observation over time as the artwork begins to develop. Since the sun moves about 15 degrees every hour, after a couple of hours, the scene changes too much to keep working that day at that spot. I take reference photographs which are useful for finishing work in my home studio. I have to admit-it's often a relief to be inside, away from insects, wind that can deposit a layer of sand on the painting, and other outdoor inconveniences!

I also enjoy collage. It's a more spontaneous way of working, which invites me to stretch out in different directions. I take collage as an opportunity to explore various materials (such as using 'paper' from a bald head hornet nest). These collages tend to be more abstract, sometimes playful, coming from imagined scenes or memory (such as the childhood memory of a Delaware River flood).

Website:  conniecronenwett.com 

Online Store: Connie Cronenwett @ WSG-Shop.com