Each year, I develop a plan to move forward with my art. My focus is never haphazard. I always plan where I want, or need, growth or change.

I've taken considerable thought on this upcoming year. Changing, improving, delving deeper into medium and subjects.

In my landscape work, atmospheric air will become more evident, as will a focus on shape nuances. While continuing to "paint peace", as one of my followers described, painting distance in a way to push it further from the subject explores scenes with lower contrast and less defined edges. Describing nuances within foreground and background shapes triggers the imagination and invites immersion into the scene. 

Neutral colors and a limited palette will still dominate my paintings, as I continue to be drawn to the knocked-down vibrancy of colors. However, those pops of intense hues will remain, creating energy and excitement. 

I'm bringing back script into some landscapes. The written word is powerful, and I enjoy incorporating it within paintings. Using a new medium (fabulous multi-colored acrylic pens), calligraphic words will now shadow landscape features. Subtle as a whisper, they will be barely noticeable, but gently provide a deeper meaning to the artwork.

In my ongoing Wildland Bird Series, I will be introducing pencil marks, movement, swirling edges, opacity and transparency. Working into more feeling and less "documentation", this series will morph throughout the year into (hopefully) deeply expressive bird art. I am not sure where it will end up, only that I will paint from the gut more, the brain less. I hope you like it. As always, at the end of the year, I give back a percentage of all my Wildland Bird Series sales to the Portland Audubon Society.

One last note. I have begun a new series. This series is called the Oregon Meadow Series, and arose from a growing need within myself to paint a meadow scene many times. By repeating the same square composition of an Oregon meadow, I have freedom to explore palette and value combinations of each unique piece. It has been so much fun. 

For all my work this year, I'm excited to explore the versatile acrylics to their full potential, employing wiping, dripping, splattering, layering, various tools of application,  transparent vs. opaque passages, and reduction painting. I am looking forward to this year and the directions/opportunities it will provide. Follow along with my journey and enjoy each piece. 

Hope to see some of you this year!

Sarah

Above pieces:

Hidden Language, 24"x48"

Black-Capped Chickadee #5, 8x8

Unfolding, 12x12