I paint from nature and want to capture the beauty of the creations around me. Living in Arkansas for the last eighteen years has given me ample opportunity to capture on paper my deep and immediate impressions of nature. I have spent the last several years focusing on the vibrant colors seen in the varied landscapes of Arkansas, from the beauty of Garvan Gardens to the roaring water at Collins Creek near Heber Springs to the calm serenity of a moored sailboat at Mt. Harbor. Most of my work is now created on location, which gives me the truest sense of the patterns of light and shadows. Painting plein air also allows me to enjoy all the special places of other states and countries like France and Spain.
Some would say that artists must give up the “arts scene” to live in an out-of-the-way place with the natural beauty that we enjoy. But I say, not so. We have it all here - nature’s beauty, a climate conducive to plein air painting, and a healthy focus on art education. It doesn’t get any better than this.
S. Anderson