A luminous abstract artwork in gold, ochre and deep earth tones, inspired by J. M. W. Turner's atmospheric treatment of light, water and landscape.
The Impressions of a Turner Landscape collection grew from my longstanding interest in the English painter J. M. W. Turner. Turner worked from the late eighteenth century into the middle of the nineteenth century, yet many of his paintings appear remarkably modern. His handling of light, atmosphere and dissolving form often seems to anticipate Impressionism and abstraction. In my estimation, Turner was one of the earliest modern Impressionist painters.
I felt an immediate connection with Turner when I encountered the first artwork in this collection. Many of his works were shaped by the sea, rivers, storms and changing atmospheric conditions. My own work is also grounded in water—created through the reflections and illusions I encounter while kayaking.
Working at water level gives me an unusual perspective. Light moves across the surface, while the colours and forms of vessels become fragmented and transformed. For a brief moment, these elements can create the illusion of an entirely new landscape: one that exists somewhere between observation and imagination.
Impressions of a Turner Landscape 9 emerged from one of those moments. Its luminous yellow field, shifting lines and darker horizontal forms suggest an atmospheric landscape, although nothing in the artwork is quite what it first appears to be.
Like the other works in the collection, it invites the viewer to decide what they are seeing. The interpretation may change each time the artwork is revisited.
