Explore the Natural World Exhibition at Capital Arts Gallery

Exhibition Dates: October 3 – November 9, 2024

Location: Capital Arts Gallery, Jefferson City, Missouri

Reception: Thursday, October 10, 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM

I am thrilled to announce that two of my recent works are featured in the "Explore the Natural World" exhibition at Capital Arts Gallery. This exhibition invites viewers to engage with the beauty and complexity of the natural world, reminding us that nature encompasses more than just trees and wildlife; it also includes seasons, weather patterns, and the delicate balance of ecosystems.

In my contributions to this exhibit, I present a painting of a praying mantis and an abstract representation of a jellyfish created with alcohol ink. Each piece reflects my ongoing exploration of nature and its myriad expressions.

The first piece, a small painting of a praying mantis, captures the essence of this fascinating insect using bold strokes and colors that create a soft, bokeh background. My goal is to encourage viewers to appreciate the unique beauty of mantises, which often go overlooked. I hope that this work inspires a sense of wonder and prompts people to look closer at the natural world around them.

The second piece, an abstract jellyfish rendered in alcohol ink, showcases the fluidity and unpredictability of this medium. Through experimentation with resist techniques, I aimed to convey the effortless movement of marine life while reflecting the serene colors of underwater environments. This piece embodies the theme of the exhibition, as it invites viewers to embrace the flow of nature and the beauty it offers.

The "Explore the Natural World" exhibition runs until November 9, 2024, providing a fantastic opportunity to engage with diverse artistic interpretations of nature. I invite you to visit Capital Arts Gallery and experience these works firsthand.

Keep reading for the full artist statements about each piece:

Praying Mantis

5 inches by 7 inches

Acrylic on canvas panel

As an artist who works across various mediums, I am constantly exploring the intersection between nature and expression. In my current work, I focus on the praying mantis—a creature that has always fascinated me with its calm demeanor and striking form. This painting captures the mantis using bold, rough strokes that emphasize the sharp angles and intricate textures found in its natural body.

For this piece, I chose colors that create the illusion of a soft, bokeh background, allowing the mantis to remain the central focus without distractions. The painting, though small at just 7 by 5 inches on canvas panel, aims to convey the quiet beauty of this often misunderstood insect. Mantises have a unique personality and, while they can make fascinating pets, I prefer to admire them in their natural habitat. My intent is not to convey any deeper meaning but to encourage viewers to appreciate the beauty of these creatures. I hope that by engaging with my work, people might see these insects with fresh eyes, perhaps taking a closer look the next time they encounter one in their own backyard.

Jellyfish

20 inches by 30 inches

Alcohol Ink on Yupo Paper

In my work, I strive to capture the delicate balance between control and spontaneity found in nature. This 20 x 30-inch piece, created with alcohol ink on Yupo paper, is an abstract representation of a jellyfish and surrounding bubbles. The fluidity of the inks mirrors the effortless movement of marine life, while the calm color palette reflects the serenity of underwater environments.

As I continue to explore the possibilities of alcohol inks, I find excitement in the challenges they present. The unpredictable flow of the medium leaves vast room for experimentation and growth. For this piece, I used two different resist techniques: one to create the large, ethereal bubbles, and another to define the more structured lines of the jellyfish. While I am pleased with how the bubbles came to life, I am still searching for more refined ways to achieve control, particularly when depicting detailed elements like the jellyfish.

I believe this piece fits well within the theme of the "Explore the Natural World" exhibition at Capital Arts Gallery. In nature, as in working with alcohol ink, one must often embrace the fluidity and unpredictability of the elements and, like a jellyfish, go with the flow.