My art is rooted in the landscape but rather than realism I am interested in creating something new, a representation of the place but also the excitement, interactions and joy of being there.

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My landscapes celebrate bright, contrasting elements of blue skies, sun-beaten golden hillsides dotted with lone oaks, and deep, cool canyons. These new-world elements stand in striking contrast to the Scottish scenery of my youth, inspiring a modern, abstract style with simplified graphic elements and emphasis on a bright color palette.

Each piece has multiple layers of color overlaying simple graphic elements. Color is used to show the underlying geography and hint at movement such as the breeze across a meadow. I use repeating patterns of elements such as oaks or trails to ground and scale the composition. Drips and brush marks are left visible to add to the engagement of the viewer. Bright saturated color adds to the immediacy and directness of the scene - these are the colors in your head when you remember the visit - unfiltered blue skies, golden hillsides and deepest blue shaded valleys.

A reference photo from a recent excursion provides the starting place. After using the basic elements I branch out to make my new artwork, often melding memories of the place with those of other similar California landscapes. I traverse many of the parks I show with a detailed topographical map well off the trails. This adds form to my vision as I remember how the contours twist and turn in this particular park.

After my initial drafting I slowly add form while preserving or enhancing areas of drips and brush marks to create abstract elements which will be unique to this piece.

Inspiration comes from masters of color and form throughout art history, such as Botticelli, Gauguin and Matisse, and modern masters who combine graphical, abstract elements with representational work, such as Diebenkorn, Hockney and Thiebaud.

Stephanie shows her work around the San Francisco Bay Area, and offers an intimate look into her workspace and process at her annual Open Studio in Los Altos.

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