march solo exhibitions are up at the gallery with new paintings by john folsom and brigid watson. both artists look to the landscape for inspiration in their works. john folsom traveled to our beloved north carolina last year to photograph the beautiful mountains and coast as the subject matter for his exhibition. john starts with photographs as a base for his work and through his use of oil along with encaustic transforms his photographic images as far into a painting as possible. the result of his layered technique causes the image to be timeless hovering in a dream like state softening the surrounding into a soothing portal. brigid watson’s impasto paintings are all about the brushstroke. heavily applied oil paint is built up on the canvas referencing all the layers of the natural world. at first glance her paintings seem completely abstract but once you study them you slowly see drifts of snow and green grass undulating through her thick surfaces. the tactile quality of the work as seen through brigid’s fingerprints on the side of the canvases is evidence her time spent contemplating each marking.
john folsom is a mixed media artist who received his bachelor of fine arts in cinema and photography from southern illinois university. his work demonstrates the narrative potential of images through the intersection of painting and photography. the process involved with creating john folsom's work has many stages. he first travels and documents the landscape with his digital camera and works with the image utilizing photographic software. then the image is broken into a grid and each tile is printed individually being assembled like a giant jigsaw puzzle adhered to a wooden support. folsom then paints on the surface of the photographic paper using traditional oils and seals the piece with a wax medium.
john folsom in his atlanta studio
“this series captures the transformative journey from fort mountain to the atlantic ocean, traversing the diverse landscapes of the blue ridge parkway. through a fusion of photography, oil paint, and wax medium, i aim to convey the rich textures and atmospheric nuances encountered along this scenic route.
the photographic images serve as a foundation, encapsulating the transient beauty of each scene. layering oil paint and wax introduces depth and tactile quality, allowing me to interpret the landscapes beyond mere representation. this mixed-media approach reflects the interplay between the tangible and the ephemeral, mirroring the ever-changing vistas observed during my travels.
each piece in this collection is a meditation on the journey itself—the gradual transition from the rugged mountain terrains to the expansive coastal horizons. the interplay of mediums invites viewers to experience the landscapes not only visually but also sensorially, evoking the sounds, scents, and emotions that define this unique passage.
through this work, i seek to honor the natural beauty of the blue ridge parkway and share the profound impact these landscapes have had on my artistic expression. i invite viewers to embark on this journey with me, exploring the intricate layers of nature and the creative process that brings them to life.”
brigid watson is a boston based painter. she holds a masters degree from new york university and undergraduate degrees from the school of the museum of fine arts, boston and tufts university. her lush abstract drawings and paintings are known for their rich color, and are inspired by people, places, experiences, and travels. in 2021 brigid received the coveted pollock-krasner award.
“as an abstract painter, my personal mission is interpreting the natural world with all of the color, feeling, and texture i can summon. i paint the air; hot, humid, dry, crackling with static. i paint the earth; soaked, fruitful, parched. i paint the waters of the lakes and oceans. i paint the fields of my memories in all seasons. i paint the first snow, the blizzards, the thawing in spring. like landscape painters before me, i try to capture my experience on the ever changing earth.”
all available work by each artist can be viewed on our website under their individual tabs including sizing + pricing. hidell brooks gallery is by appointment. please call the gallery if you have any further questions.