Gail
E. Priday
Extropsection
Extrospection
is the examination or observation of what is outside of oneself. In
other words, ordinary sense perception. My work is inspired by what I
observe on a daily basis. Rather than seeking out dramatic scenery
and grand vistas, I am drawn to humble roadside trees, wild weedy
plant-life, snow cover and the unique light of the Interior. I often
focus on smaller elements of the landscape such as the bark of a
tree, lichens, twigs and ground cover. The changes that occur
seasonally are also of great interest. Our seasons are dramatic and
they come and go with a force that is hard to miss. I feel an urgency
to capture those changes. Melting snow, the new mud of spring,
falling leaves, ripening berries, low winter light and long shadows
in the snow are frequent subjects in both my paintings and prints.
Printmaking allows me to
express my paintings in a new way. I often use a painting as a
starting point for a print. After a painting has been worked for a
number of weeks it becomes ingrained in my mind. I feel that I know
the subject well and I am not quite ready to let it go. As you
navigate the gallery you will find evidence of this re-use. In order
to take an image from painting to print, I must simplify the
composition and reduce the colors. Reduction woodcuts work well with
this process. By making a reduction print I am able to obtain a
number of colors from a single block. While there is much planning
involved there is also an element of surprise. Printmaking is a
beautiful mix of intense thought and meditative repetition.
I see the same landscape
outside my windows every day. I walk past the same trees and
hillsides, yet the view keeps changing. It is as if I am experiencing
something new every time. My paintings and prints are an attempt to
keep feeling that wonder and to connect with viewers who have noticed
the same changes and experienced the same fascination.
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