ELISE WAGNER
On a dog walk , I ’ ll look up at the layers of clouds in the Oregon grey sky and see various shades of lavender , white and violet . Accumulated raindrops on the telephone wires form a silver line superimposed across it . This is one way I draw from nature even if in the middle of an urban environment . From this tiny glimpse of a moment , an impulse to replicate the color or frame a composition arises and an idea for a painting has emerged .
The cast of light and storm patterns in the Pacific Northwest is like no other place . Having grown up in a diverse and densely populated city in New Jersey , I have always been in awe of and drawn great inspiration from this region of the country . It ’ s combined rugged majestic Pacific Coast , Columbia River Gorge , high desert mountain and rain forest areas often provoke me to compose paintings in my head . Ultimately however , remaining open , aware and curious is the most important aspect of my practice as an artist and , how I conceptualize my paintings .
My work over the past three decades has mostly been about my interpretation of the natural world around me within a cartographic and celestial context . Humanity ’ s attempts throughout history to understand the mysteries of science have always inspired and formed the basis of my work .