The Stillness of Animals
These small works on paper began as experiments in immediacy—paintings made quickly, with few expectations, to capture something instinctive and alive.
These new works on paper explore the quiet power of animal forms—symbols distilled to their essence, where gesture, geometry, and simplicity evoke a timeless sense of balance and calm. Rooted in the Vermont landscape and shaped by my Scandinavian sensibility, they reflect my devotion to painterly technique and the contemplative clarity of modern art.
In making them, I look for presence rather than likeness. A curve of a back, a tilt of the head, a simple contour in oil or pastel can suggest a whole life—wild, domestic, or imagined. Each image develops quickly, yet holds within it the stillness I seek: that moment when nature, memory, and form come together in quiet harmony.
These paintings of animals, created quickly and intuitively, express my desire for immediacy, directness, and discovery. They rely on suggestion rather than description—on symbols more than likeness.
Drawing on my Scandinavian heritage, this new series explores animals as archetypal figures, evoking a subconscious connection to Nordic themes through both form and style. Subtle color harmonies contrast with bold, flat brushwork and simplified geometric structures. Texture emerges from the use of unconventional tools and techniques, inviting viewers to sense a primal resonance within quiet, minimalist compositions. Through the interplay of geometry, line, and gesture, I seek to create a visual language imbued with stillness and contemplation.
In the works, I am drawn to fleeting moments—a cow grazing, a deer pausing, a sheep turning its gaze toward us. These are not portraits of animals so much as reflections of their symbolic presence, distilled to their essential forms. In making them, I balance structure and spontaneity, drawing inspiration from heraldic imagery while softening it through loose, fluid applications of oil paint and pastel. Using brushes, rags, tape, and sandpaper blocks as my tools, I welcome chance as part of the process. I value the simplicity and urgency of working this way—the clarity that arises from directness, and the quiet revelations that follow.
A reflection on painting animals as symbolic figures—seeking immediacy, directness, and discovery through simple gestures, Nordic imagery, and the quiet balance between structure and spontaneity. Read more Reflections >
