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Connection to the landscape is elemental. The carbon in a leaf, in our DNA, and in an ancient star share the strains of origin. Light and air, shadow and texture, color and scent—all play a part in shaping us whether we notice or not. This connection drives much of my work.

Each painting recalls a place and a story. A painting might begin with imagery of majesty and wonder, or decay, or both—creating a tension, a paradox to explore. Despite the source, I hope the work offers a sense of restoration to the viewer, just as the process of creating it does for me.

I use any material, usually water soluble, that can be applied to a surface, though my primary medium is acrylic. Being both builder and archaeologist, I layer images that speak to an idea, then deconstruct them through scraping, sanding, and solvents. Hidden layers emerge, while glazes unify and allow light to emit from the painting.

As the daughter of a coal miner, I’ve often focused on the coal fields of central Pennsylvania—abandoned mines, acid drainage, and mountaintop removal. I’ve also turned to melting ice caps, fire-ravaged forests, and storm-battered towns, searching for signs of renewal amid destruction.

Nature’s endurance, even in ruin, may teeter on the edge. But beauty in the landscape remains a constant inspiration, whether found in the scars left by conflict and contamination or by a perennial waterfall, or an ordinary sunset. It all offers the promise of renewal.

Copyright © 2021 JoAnn Gilles / All Rights Reserved  
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