Nancy Merkle

Prairie Dawn, Original Painting

2019

Artist Comments
Artist Nancy Merkle captures a big open western sky over a grassy prairie. Large, fluffy clouds sweep up to the heavens, reflecting the pastel colors of the s...

Artist Comments
Artist Nancy Merkle shares that this painting was inspired by an adventure in rural Oregon. A small trail in the backcountry reveals a forest of pine and fir trees among rolling hills. Crisp light warms the golden hillside and pulls the viewer deeper into the scene.

About the Artist
Nancy Merkle's process begins with a glimpse of color, a flicker of light, a pattern, or a texture. Elements swirl in her mind for hours, sometimes days, sometimes weeks before a design clicks and is transferred to canvas. With the canvas in front of her, she works intuitively -- a mark here, a mark there, a little touch of color, a bit of texture -- until she is satisfied and declares the work finished. Currently Nancy's work leans toward abstraction; she doesn't paint the world as it is, but as she wishes it were. Bold colors and loose brush strokes are her goal. When she's not making art, Nancy travels the Pacific Coast with a bicycle strapped to the car and "curiosity in my back pocket."

Words that describe this painting: landscape, Oregon, Pacific Northwest, nature, forest, trail, road, woodland, hills, rural, outdoors, impressionist, pine, fir, trees, impressionism, landscape, representational, acrylic painting, green, yellow

Oregon Trail...

Artist Comments
A small coastal farmhouse tucked into a spring landscape, nasturtiums in the foreground give way to old eucalyptus and Cypress trees in the distance. Inspired from a scene in northern California that Kip sketched in one of his notebooks nearly 25 years ago. Part of his signature series of impressionist landscapes. He captures forest scenes, marshes and prairies throughout the year, playing up the changing color palette of the seasons and the specific lighting conditions. He focuses less on specific places than the overall feeling of the scene.

About the Artist
Kip Decker boasts more than 40 years of experience with acrylic paint. His images come from places he has lived - everywhere from Arizona to Oregon to Colorado. He finds inspiration in nature and admires the work of Post Impressionist artists. He likes to think of his artwork as "lyrical expressionism." Kip currently lives across the street from a small lake where he enjoys watching the birds.

Words that describe this painting: barn, California, flowers, field, pasture, trees, impressionism, landscape, representational, acrylic painting, blue

Near Half Moon Bay...

Artist Comments
Artist Janet Dyer captures a verdant meadow on a cloudy day in a delightful palette of varied greens interjected with bright orange. The sky is finished off w...