Far too often I am reminded by the locals that early immigrants who settled the Great Plains had episodes of insanity. The cause is commonly attributed to the isolation but also surprisingly …the wind.

It’s different out here. Elemental. Dramatic. That’s why I want to paint this landscape.

Back home on the west coast the landscape is teaming with complexity.

It reminds me of baroque art. But instead of gold leafed cathedrals, imagine gilded forest as a place of worship. An ecosystem of movement, exuberant in detail, rich in color, grand and supremely decorative.

Contrastingly the Prairie is primordial prehistoric, pre human, pre art.

There is variety even in this barren landscape.

As a result after we moved here I felt drawn to paint landscapes. I mucked around with half finishing a few paintings for a while. It was an uphill battle. I felt lost.

Then I committed and finished three small works over a few seasons. I asked for feedback from a couple close artists.

I was told the first painting was showing improvement from previous attempts. But it was recommended I study the effects of “atmospheric perspective”.

I had no idea what that might be but it sounded technical and impressive.

So I did some research and actively thought about the concepts. I could see what was meant. And am now working to apply the concepts.

Basically the concept boils down to this…how do distant objects appear? Notice the further away an object, the less clear they are, and the more they take on the value and hue of the background.