Nina Jerome Paintings at Elizabeth Moss Gallery June 1- July 8, 2017
"Fish Point in Fog", 16x20, oil, 2016
I listen to radio while I paint in the studio. I have covered my drawing table with phrases, book and song titles, authors' and
composers' names, travel tips, and other items of interest. At some
point during the last year I jotted down the linked phrases “let nature sustain” and
George Sand. What I remember from the radio discussion is that Sand’s last words to her
family were “laissez verdure”. One
translation of the phrase is “leave the green” and the other that I prefer is
“let nature sustain”. I responded to this story, first, because I was so
impressed by Sand's profound statement as she lay dying, and second, because the phrase seemed to relate directly to me, my work, and my
interests.
"Lagoon at Loon Point", 18x24, oil, 2016 - center
I am inspired by observation of the land, by structures of
things that grow and create layers along the earth’s surface. I like intimate,
distant, and aerial spaces and am interested in how humans shape their space, “leave
the green”, and are inspired by their surroundings. Experiencing, observing, and responding
to nature by drawing and painting renews my spirit. The act itself, the process of
observing and responding, revising, and completing makes me feel like a witness
to both life and the nature around me. As a result I feel more human by documenting my
surroundings and sharing my responses with others through my painting and
drawing.
"Backshore, Painting from Drawing #1", and "Back Shore Improvisation"
“Let Nature Sustain” is the title of my current show of paintings from Great
Cranberry Island at Elizabeth Moss Gallery in Falmouth.
The phrase found its way from my drawing table to my paintings as I recognized its importance
to my work. I thank George Sand for the phrase and I am very grateful to the
Heliker-LaHotan Foundation for the opportunity to live and work on Great Cranberry
Island for the month of September. Waking up every
day with the knowledge that I had an entire island at my disposal provided both
geographical limits and infinite inspiration. My month-long immersion was a
continual focus on plein air painting and drawing that led to many new paintings in
the studio.
Great Cranberry Island landscapes at Elizabeth Moss Gallery
"Fish Point, Incoming Tide, ", 24x24, oil, 2016
"Bickford Afternoon", "Blowdown", and "Twilight"
"Backshore Improvisation", "Morning Light from the Studio", "Beach at Long Point, Low Tide"
"Bickford Point Afternoon", and "Blowdown, Long Point"
"Late Afternoon, Toward Acadia", 24x24, oil, 2016
"Fish Point from the Window" and "Morning at Old Cove"
To see individual paintings, please visit gallery website https://www.elizabethmossgalleries.com/letnaturesustain