Landscape Drawings

In terms of materials, the concept of repurposing lath is evident but there is an emphasis on mark making and drawing as a means to an end.  Given my interest in both texture and recycling, the lath replaced the canvases I previously used and became the support for my work.  I manipulate a variety of materials: drywall mud, plaster, netting, clear gesso and acrylics, to create a smooth base to draw upon.  Layers of fixative are keeping my drawings safe, but they are still somewhat fragile artworks despite their weight.   Some of the artworks included the latitude or longitude associated with the location where the photo was taken. The old wallpaper collaged onto a number of artworks added variety to the landscapes and mimics the worn feeling associated with old houses facing demolition. It also helps to enhance the connection to the original purpose of the lath--to function as walls but also add a bit of colour.  The use of plaster was an easy choice as it was the original material of the wall and its smooth white surface mimics the surface of paper well.

These landscape pencil drawings reflect upon themes within nature; dormancy, regrowth and conservation. Some drawings demonstrate little evidence of human presence, hoping to instill involuntary memories within the viewer exploring Nature independently -while other artworks include some man-made aspects such as telephone poles, fence-lines and roads to reflect how society is infringing upon the environment. I hope that my drawings encourage the viewer to spend more time outside and appreciate the quiet beauty of the land. The content varies from the lakescapes of Muskoka and the open fields of Southwestern Ontario where I grew up, but I have also used imagery taken while on trips out to the east or west coasts of Canada.