“TRAVERSING THE LANDSCAPE”, Mary Opatz Herges

I would describe this body of work as abstract landscapes. Recently I’ve moved away from plein air painting, where I set up my French easel in a pleasing landscape and try to capture the scene in front of me. Instead of slavishly trying to document a setting by putting down the colors, details, and light I observe in nature I’m trusting my instincts to interpret the scene. The finished result may not be realistically accurate but, I feel, is more emotionally charged.

When deciding to leave out unnecessary parts, envisioning a different take on a landscape rather than copying it, and putting colors where I feel they best belong, the paintings become fresher. This move toward abstraction has allowed for much more personal expression. Giving myself the freedom to interpret a scene by using my language has opened a new world of artistic growth.

My inspiration continues to be from what I observe in the great outdoors. The changing colors and shadows, and their effect on surfaces will always be a source of inspiration. Though the final painting may not look like the scene I observe, being in the natural world gives me limitless painting ideas.

Recently, I have been doing etchings and silkscreens in the SCSU art building. The work I’m doing in printmaking is affecting the way I approach painting. I look at the interesting textures I am creating with the variety of techniques used on my etching plate and ask myself, “How do I create that on my canvases?”

This show at the Paramount gallery represents the interesting communication between my etchings and paintings.