An affinity to the landscape is likely the result
of my rural, Midwestern upbringing, with parents who gave me a deep appreciation
for nature. My childhood was spent playing in pastures and exploring the woods.
Summers revolved around extended camping trips across the country. It wasn't
until I moved away from the Midwest that I realized its incredible beauty and
the strong influence it has on my life. Upon my return, l discovered that the
ground at my feet, the earth itself, is paramount to my ability to feel whole
and connected. There is something reassuring and even restorative about the
fact that the landscape is ever changing, yet so much the same; this particular
soil, the roots, rocks, etc. have endured for decades, even centuries. My drawings
and paintings are about my local surroundings. Often, they focus not so much
on the vastness of the horizon, the distant vista, but on a more personal, close-up
viewpoint. I want to feel as though I'm in the landscape, not as an observer
but as a participant.
- Ann Coulter
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