ArtView March 2015 | Page 24

Danielle Hatherley Colorado IV Quite some time ago, as a landscape painter, I realised that the scenes which most attracted me featured high contrast. As long as there was a high point of light pitched against dark, the subject matter became irrelevant. I fell in love with the simplest backlit scenes in the most unexpected places. It is the resonance of light against dark that interests me. The life and energy of the two. They seem to fight each other, yet they are one and a part of the same. One cannot exist without the other. The free-form nature of trees as my subject has enabled me to explore light and dark with less distraction than some other subjects might bring about. My palette has been based in warm shades for many years, although after recently discovering the landscape of Colorado I was inspired to explore a new palette. In order to progress as an artist and get closer to that elusive vision we are chasing, I feel it is crucial to push beyond our comfort zone. To try different things, and at times push into the unknown, as long as we stay true to the pursuit of our main vision. Originally from Sydney, Australia, Danielle Hatherley lives and paints in New York City and Boulder, Colorado. www.daniellehatherley.com