ArtistsNetwork.com 63shift [thanks to the movement of the sun], the overall
colors will not,” she says. This planning gives her the
freedom to paint quickly but without hesitation or error.
Sometimes Gilkerson likes to tone the ground with
a mid-value of a neutral color—usually that of the light
source—applying it thinly with a rag but without solvent
or medium. “I normally use yellow ochre since that’s the
color of the light here in the Southeast,” she says. “The
color both unifies the composition and hints at the color
of the light in the landscape.”
Spending time in repeated visits to one area often
results in a series of works. “I’ve found that if I dive deep
into a location, the work becomes richer as a result,” says
Gilkerson. “Going back to the same subject over and over is
like peeling back the layers of an onion.” She believes that
through painting a series, the artist builds a richer con-
nection with the landscape, a connection that viewers and
collectors can discern and appreciate.
Bridging Natural and Man-Made
Even though Gilkerson grew up in the hustle and bustle
of the city, she played in the woods every day as a child.
She points out that back then there were still undevel-
oped areas where she could disappear until it was time
for dinner. “I’m not sure many kids get to experience that
now,” she laments. “That disconnect between us and the
LEARN MORE ABOUT MARY BENTZ
GILKERSON AT MARYGILKERSON.COM.naturalworldissomethingI want
tobridge.”
Occasionallya viewerprovides
evidencethatshehasdoneso.“Atone
ofmysoloexhibitions,I wastalking
witha viewerwhohada lookofrapture
thatreallysatisfiedmeasa painter,”
saysGilkerson.“Hetoldmethatthe
paintingstookhimbacktotheland-
scapeofhischildhood.Knowingthat
mypaintingshelpedhimre-engage
withthatmemorywasextraordinarily
gratifying—asmuchassellingany
largepaintinghaseverbeen.”Artist Michael Chesley Johnson is the
author of Outdoor Study to Studio:
Take Your Plein Air Painting to the
Next Level and other books. He’s
featured in several Artists Network TV
videos and teaches painting workshops
across the U.S. For more information,
visit mchesleyjohnson.com.Summer,
Morning Storm
oil on panel, 5x7More Online!
Gilkerson shares
seven tips for
jump-starting
creativity at
artistsnetwork.com/
go/get-creative.