Valley of the Giants, Drawing, Pastels on Pastel Sandpaper, 2024

Bob Palmerton  

Artist Statement:

We are often too busy with our daily lives to stop and spend time appreciating nature and the varied landscapes that it offers. Although weather, seasons, climate change and other natural causes alter the natural environment, a landscape painting never changes.  A painting represents the artist's interpretation of a scene, and captures, forever, the awe and majesty of the natural subject at hand.  An artist portrays what otherwise no one may ever see.

The landscape that emerges on a canvas, borne from an interpretation of what is viewed before us, is created on an empty surface from a collection of colors and shades.  Imagine that! The painting represents a unique, personal interpretation of nature built from a blank slate, using the tools of the mind, the intricacies of contemplation, the thoughts that converge and ripen to create a unified representation of nature. One's mind builds the interpretive landscape to convey a unique message, not one that can be captured simply with a camera, but one that exalts the mysteries and the priceless features of an ever-changing landscape.

As a landscape artist, I take advantage of all that nature offers me.  Each of my paintings are interpretations of the landscape created with equal ingredients of contemplation and artist's supplies!  I trust that you will enjoy viewing my landscapes. My goal is to encourage you to spend more time appreciating nature and the varied landscapes that it presents.

Education:

Fordham University, New York, NY.
The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI.

Awards & Distinctions:

Chicago Pastel Painters Award - 2021
Great Lakes Pastel Society Small Work Show Award - 2021
Huron River Art Collective Spring 2021 Exhibit - Honorable Mention
1st Place, Huron River Art Collective, Spring 2019
Uart Sanded Paper Award - Connecticut Pastel Society
Blick Art Materials/Heilman Designs/F&W Pastel Journal Award, Chicago Pastel Painters Biennial Exhibition, 2017
Exhibited in national juried shows: Chicago Pastel Painters, Ann Arbor Art Fair, Great Lakes Pastel Society, Pfizer Corporate Gallery

Exhibitions:

Chicago Pastel Painters 2019 - 2021
Great Lakes Pastel Society - 2019 - 2021
Huron River Art Collective 2018 - 2021
Saline District Library, Feb-Mar, 2018
Clinton Art Center, Clinton, MI. Oct 12-Dec 28, 2018

Zatista Online Gallery

Great Lakes Pastel Society National Exhibit
Holland Area Arts Council, Holland, MI. May 18-July 7, 2018

Pastels Chicago 2017 Biennial National Juried Exhibition, Mayslake Peabody Estate, Oakbrook IL., Nov 8 - Dec 3, 2017

Great Lakes Pastel Society Members Exhibit, South Haven Center for the Arts, May 26-July 8, 2017.

Ann Arbor Art Fair, Ann Arbor, MI.
Plymouth Art Fair, Plymouth, MI.
Brighton Art Fair, Brighton, MI.
Harvest of the Arts - Saline, MI
Great Lakes Pastel Society National Shows
Kellor Willams - Ann Arbor, MI
Pfizer Corporate Gallery - Ann Arbor, MI
The Book Abbey - Adrian, MI
Chicago Pastel Society
Connecticut Pastel Society - Uart Sanded Paper Award
 

Professional/Teaching Experience:

Landscape in Pastels instructor at the Michigan Art Center in Garden City, MI., and the 212 Art Center in Saline, MI.

Artistic Influences:

Impressionists
Hudson River School

Tags:

pastels, landscape art, michigan