Rural Landscapes

I grew up in southern Arkansas, in Monticello. My Mom’s parents lived about five miles west of Monticello. Growing up, we would sometimes go swimming in the Saline river. My brother and I would roam the creek bottoms behind my grand parent’s house. We climbed all over the two barns.  I searched the gardens and cowpaths for arrowheads.

For the past three decades, I’ve been building a portfolio that depicts a visual snapshot of the landscapes I know and remember. Beginning with scenes from southeastern Arkansas for the most part, I have gradually extended my search to other areas for inspiration. These paintings come from our family travels and of course, places around Fayetteville where we live. 

Subject matter varies widely. There are paintings rooted in memory. And other pieces closely examine in detail the natural landscape as it is now. I enjoy showing what we have done to our state and also illustrating the places where we have left it alone. I try to give the viewer a feeling of the current landscape and how that relates to the past.   

I never suggest that we need to return to the “old days” and I think remembering is compatible with the contemporary. Both perspectives exist in this collection that seeks to tie it all together.

The following works are for sale either directly from the artist or from Cantrell Gallery. Send an email to inquire about purchasing one of these paintings!