Vanessa A. Michalak
My paintings are inspired by a love of nature and the desire to
escape the urban environment. Through a synthesis of memories,
imagination, and found photos, I feed my craving for exploration,
adventure, and personal freedom in images depicting rural
landscapes. Unexpected color and inventive brushwork blend
representation with abstraction, constructing worlds that are
dreamlike yet familiar. Although the paintings depict naturalistic
forms, human interaction with the landscape is always present.
Figures move through forests, and viewers are forced to make
their way through overgrown paths. Temporary dwellings within
the landscape allude to impermanence. The paintings are a
reflection of my inner restlessness and longing to reconnect with
nature.