"Dune"
by Chris Cox
http://www.chriscoxart.com/
As an abstract artist, I am drawn to the fluid relationship between water, sky and earth. My Scotland Series is inspired by the peaceful, yet rugged, terrain of Scotland’s Outer Hebrides. A combination of their moors, majestic cliffs, rocky green hillsides, grey skies, calm lakes, fog, rough seas and distant mountains create a transcendental experience for me. There is an overwhelming influence of blue/grey and green/yellow everywhere, peppered with deep browns and creamy whites in the vistas of the Outer Hebrides. Their ever-changing skies give way to a constant play of light and dark upon the earth and water.
I work with oil on canvas, using primarily oil sticks, palette knives, scrapers and any tools that give me the texture and surface I want. With some of my paintings, I start with a ground of ceramic stucco to increase the tactile quality. I build layers of paint until the painting develops a rich history and texture. I want the viewer to see the artist’s hand in my work. I try to embrace the unexpected and allow the process to reveal or uncover what is there. That is when the painting becomes what it wants to be.