Atlantic Gallery is pleased to announce the opening of HERE AND THERE, an exhibition of plein air and studio paintings by Jim Ebersole, on view from Tuesday, April 26 through Saturday, May 7, 2022. A reception for the artist will be held on Thursday, April 28 from 6:00 to 8:00 pm.

Direct observation of the world is the starting point for all my landscape and urban scenes. I begin outdoors, painting or sketching in plein air, interacting with the landscape as well as the community of passers-by. Strong abstract compositions–of light and dark, form and gesture, empty space and solid masses of trees and buildings–create the underlying structure for my representational landscape paintings. As much about psychological or spiritual relationships as topographical representation, my paintings depict an idea of a place. Rendering in color can capture what the eye sees, create a sense of space and suggest a mood of stillness: a visual representation of the dynamic intersection between the spiritual and temporal worlds.

Depicting actual places grounds my work in the present moment, while my traditional approach–influenced by Edward Hopper, the Hudson River Painters, and European painters like Turner, Constable and Corot–situates my work within the history of Western painting. At times, I sketch in pencil or capture a scene in watercolors, but oil-painting is my final medium. In my choice of composition, I’m guided by a desire to use my skills to reveal the beauty which already exists in the world. Everything is already present and provided; my job as the artist is to notice the relationships and organize it so that other people can see it. The relationship between objects in space, whether trees or buildings, is revealed through the quality and character of light, whether through reflection or shadow.

Plein air painting invites interaction from others, and I find community and connection to the people who strike up conversations with me as I paint. They may offer information about the place, and I may offer them inspiration on their own creative practice. Plein air painting provides a paradoxical experience: the intense focus of observation and creation is a meditative experience, while I draw dynamic energy from the interaction with people. In my studio work, I use sketches done onsite to develop larger pieces, often in a series, which distill relationships among the elements of line, form, light and atmosphere, creating compositions that explore the tensions between forms and surrounding space. I don’t use photographs for reference, relying instead on imagination and memory to fill in gaps.

In my artistic process, whether onsite or in the studio as I work again and again to deepen my understanding of an image and a place, I seek always a greater sense of connection, the restorative quality of nature, and to notice the relationships among the natural, historical, and spiritual elements and express them in art so that viewers may find restful contemplation, solace, and inspiration.

For more information about the artist, please visit www.jimebersole.com.