“The Peace of Wild Things” by Wendell Berry
When despair for the world grows in me
and I wake in the night at the least sound
in fear of what my life and my children’s lives may be,
I go and lie down where the wood drake
rests in his beauty on the water, and the great heron feeds.
I come into the peace of wild things
who do not tax their lives with forethought
of grief. I come into the presence of still water.
And I feel above me the day-blind stars
waiting with their light. For a time
I rest in the grace of the world, and am free.
Artist Statement
We often think of landscape as a fixed point and place in time. Such a static depiction empties the outdoors of its boundless energy and keeps us from seeing it as it truly is: an enduring force from which we, ourselves, draw life.
From a young age, I have felt this deep relationship and connection with the earth. During moments when my heart could not articulate its longing or despair, I would wander into nature, yearning for the sense of home and healing freely found there.
Without fail, a transformation occurs when I walk upon an open space. I enter into its story, becoming part of its history. I’ve practiced and cultivated the act of submitting myself to the wild, taking in all that I hear, smell, feel, and experience.
All of this becomes part of me and my story, the moments that make up my life, and the reflection I render onto the canvas. The emotions that I feel, the experiences that saturate my perspective - these influence my view of the scenery and the light that gives it color.
Every time I step up to the easel, I uncover something new about myself and this practice. The blank canvas is an opportunity to experiment with new color schemes and unexplored palettes. Often, the scene itself sets the tone, beckoning me to find the shades that resonate with its energy as the rich malleability of the oil paint invites me to find my own pace; to manipulate and rework the details until my vision is fully realized.
I invite you to walk with me into these familiar spaces and see with fresh eyes a landscape that has perhaps become all too ordinary. Rediscover the timeless splendor and immeasurable transformation available to us in abundance with just a small shift in perspective.