Distillations of Place

Eugene, OR, USA

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Distillations of Place
Patterns of landscape, change and time
My paintingsfocus on color patterns and changes within landscapes over time. Using digitalmedia, I translate the observable landscape into numerical color values. I thencreate a system designed to process and reinterpret the color values. Thesystem, rather than my own choices, controls the structure and outcome of thepaintings. Finally, the information is interpreted through visual perception bycreating oil paintings of the system’s results. Even though I strive torecreate the colors as exactly as possible, color matching by mixing pigmentsand painting with a brush are imperfect methods to translate mathematicallyderived information. The cycle of moving through the sensual experience of thephysical environment, to a mathematical system interpreting the landscape, andfinally arriving at a sensual interpretation of the mathematical system acts forme as a metaphor of the cyclical and imperfect relationship we have with thelandscape throughout time.
Becoming One: Finely XI (Mid Spring)
Distillations of Place
Oil on wood panel
30 x 30 in.
2012
Leah Wilson
Becoming One: Finely X (Late Winter)
Distillations of Place
Oil on wood panel
30 x 30 in.
2012
Leah Wilson
Becoming One: Finely IX (Early Winter)
Distillations of Place
Oil on wood panel
30 x 30 in.
2012
Leah Wilson
Becoming One: Finley VIII (Early Winter)
Distillations of Place
Oil on wood panel
30 x 30 in.
2012
Leah Wilson

The wetland prairie is flooded with water
Becoming One: Finely VII (Late Fall)
Distillations of Place
Oil on wood panel
30 x 30 in.
2012
Leah Wilson
Becoming One: Finley VI
oil on wood
30 x 30 in.
2011
Leah Wilson

The prairie after a prescribed fall burn
Becoming One: Finley V
oil on wood
30 x 30 in.
2011
Leah Wilson
Becoming One: Finley IV
oil on wood
30 x 30 in.
2011
Leah Wilson
Becoming One: Finley III
oil on wood panel
30 x 30 in.
2011
Leah Wilson
Becoming One: Finley II
oil on wood
30 x 30 in.
2011
Leah Wilson

Finley is a wildlife preserve in Western Oregon's Willamette Valley. Wetland prairie once was the most abundant habitat in the Willamette Valley. Now it is farmland and cities. Some farmers have agreed to restore some of their fields to the native prairie. 'Becoming One: Finley' tracks the progression of a rye grass field owned by a duck hunting club as it is integrated into the adjacent wetland prairie habitat. The colors on the left are from the rye grass field. Each from the farm site transitions into a color in the wetland prairie field. In the spring, when the camas and popcorn flowers were in heavy bloom in the prairie and their colors can be seen in the right half of the painting.
Becoming One: Finley I
oil on wood
30 x 30 in.
2011
Leah Wilson

Finley is a wildlife preserve in Western Oregon's Willamette Valley. Wetland prairie once was the most abundant habitat in the Willamette Valley. Now it is farmland and cities. Some farmers have agreed to restore some of their fields to the native prairie. 'Becoming One: Finley' tracks the progression of a rye grass field owned by a duck hunting club as it is integrated into the adjacent wetland prairie habitat. The colors on the left are from the rye grass field. Each from the farm site transitions into a color in the wetland prairie field. In the spring, when the camas and popcorn flowers were in heavy bloom in the prairie and their colors can be seen in the right half of the painting.
Lush/Burn: Clark Fire Edge
oil on wood
30 x 45 in.
2011
Leah Wilson

In 2003, lush old growth forest was burned in a 5000 acre forest fire. It was a hotly contested issue as how to manage the burn area. The controversial view of prohibiting salvage logging in the area was backed by the public, but not by the traditional forest managers. However, the new view of forest management prevailed and the burn area was left to regenerate naturally, aside from the allowance of roadside salvage logging only. Eight years after the fire, the fire's boundary is still stark and apparent.
Poise
Poise Between Something and Nothing
oil on wood
40 x 50 in.
2011
Leah Wilson