On the Easel: Alligator’s View

Every now and then, I find, that a single painting changes everything. It’s usually hard-fought and follows a few restarts, scrape-aways, and sleepless nights. If I push through that long enough, I’ll start to play. That playful exploration has led me to honing my voice as an artist further every single time.

Alligator’s View is an example of this. Following the Meadows series, I was eager to pursue a looser and more abstract interpretation of landscapes but equally eager to continue using some of the marks that I have grown to deeply love from the Meadows series - namely, those swaying tall grasses. I couldn’t reconcile how to bring the two together, until a late night in the studio.

I had just finished reading a book called, “I’ll Love You Till The Crocodiles Smile” to my daughter and, I suspect, the title gives away what was on my mind at that time. Crocodiles, alligators, and I have a bit of a history. I won’t bore anyone with the details but suffice to say a beautifully illustrated book about crocs connected with me in the gentlest and kindest way.

So, when I hit those restarts and scrape-aways…I pushed through. I dug deeper. And, I found it. I found the connection I was hoping for. The connection between abstract and impressionist, in my voice.

Doing this gave me the courage to submit my work to a gallery I have long been preparing for. That’s not to say that they will offer to represent me, but it is to say that Alligator’s View unlocked something wonderful.

With that, a new series is born. And to my Mom, who might appreciate this subject matter more than anyone else - “Aggigators, momma, they won’t hurt you.”

-C.