I've been on a mission in my studio to develop my own voice. For quite awhile it has bothered me that there are LOTS of artists who paint nature, and we all produce work that resembles each other. How can I make my work stand out? The answer is simple and scary....set aside the reference materials, dig deep, and see what my heart wants to say about things. gulp.
I suspect this will be a process that will take the rest of my life, but here is one of the first steps on my journey.
I am strongly drawn to the intersection between nature and the hand of man. Here, a line of trees marks where a fence line would have been between two farm fields. Now both fields are part of a thriving prairie restoration project. There is much to rejoice in this- ground nesting birds have returned, and a number of interesting plants can be found.
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 | I think you make some really lovely paintings. I like your palette and your stroke. And I like the theme in this one about the intersection between nature and man. Finding one's voice - that is always the big question, isn't it? Being a photographer myself, I can relate to the urge to find my own voice. But how deep the urge might be, I still think it comes when you don't search for it, when you do the art, whether painting or photography, from the heart - as you say - without any thoughts to what is <i>me</i>. You clearly already have a pretty strong voice of your own. | -- Otto Von Münchow, 2/16/12
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| Hi Melissa. I too love landscapes, and I think that just by following what interests us most in the very thing we love, we develop an individual voice. You know, when we don’t know something well, similarities seem the same. I remember when I first listened to Indian music I had that impression, and it has happened on a number of occasions when I entered a new field. But the more familiar you get, the more intimate you get with a subject, the more sensitive you become to the subtleties. And that is true of art too. Just follow what most attracts you, and you’ll find that your work will be unlike any other. I already like what I see, and wish you much success with your painting. | -- Shimonz, 12/19/11
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