Mary E. Phillips

At times I feel like a somewhat objective observer of her many patterns, rhythms, systems and intricacies. Glances of the landscape during a morning walk, through the windows of a moving train, plane or car, or just outside the dining room window, all reveal the grand design of nature. My smaller watercolors attempt to capture the sense of being such an observer. It seems easy to pick up the patterns on such a small scale.

My larger, more abstract paintings are the result of allowing the movement and color of nature to reveal themselves through my own actions of painting. For me, this more subjective approach works better on a larger scale.

I find the fluid media of watercolor, acrylic and ink particularly well suited for the depiction of nature, as their simplicity and fluidity allow one to concentrate seamlessly both on the image and on the action of painting.