Rebecca Meloy
Punkaharju Central Finland Oil on canvas
Yew Street Pond Bellingham, Washington Oil on canvas
Birch / Clouds Alajarvi, Finland Soft Pastel
Field Edison, Washington Oil on canvas
Urban Tree / Lilac Finland Oil on canvas
Ditch / Farm Conway, Washington Pastel
Slough / Tree Skagit County, Washington Linoleum Print
Winter Chuckanut Tree Blanchard, Washington Linoleum Print
Beach Pine Pacific Ocean, Oregon Linoleum Print
Clear Cut Forest Olympic Forest, Washington Linoleum Print
“My art evolves around land and trees — maybe because as a child that is where I found centering protection.
Having a strong bond with nature, as an adult I came to realize that I become overwrought when destruction is brought to the environment. Only in 1995, after many years of painting abstract ‘Diary Pages’, the land I love emerged through a gouache painting of an orchard titled ‘Healing Life’. Prior to this change of imagery, I had also been very active attending hearings about wetland filling, water pollution, and jet noise and had co-founded a collaborative local environmental newspaper.
Today, my decisions in using the imagery I select are spontaneous. Frequently it is the quality of light, air, or movement from wind that pulls me into the plein air art-making process. Doing so, I use hand-pulled linoleum printing, soft-pastel drawing, and oil painting.
Recording observations and expressing feelings through hand tools and color is integral to my life. Maybe this process is about working through chaos to calm. I do know that new understanding awakens.”