Greg Hargreaves, Waterloo, IA. (Artist Statement)

It's difficult to describe what actually occurs as the artist broods over the a raw canvas facing him. For me, the dialog that plays out is between myself (the artist), the environment (the landscape), and the medium (the paint). I suppose we could include the canvas, as well, but the canvas really is just inviting us over to his house.The painting assumes a more subordinate (non speaking) role and stays pretty much out of the way; in the background (no pun intended) while the three of us tackle the business at hand.

Sometimes I haven't a clue where the conversation will lead, or who will dominate. Sometimes I know exactly where I want the discourse to go. At those times, I try to manhandle the conversation, to steer it along paths predetermined. At other times I listen more, and let other more "intuitive"voices lead.

Sometimes the landscape is simply to powerful to be ignored and both the paint and I acquiesce, rollover and give the landscape its head. Other times the paint is more vocal and demands to be recognized and then both the landscape and I retire. Tomorrow is after all, another day.

Why do I include landscape and paint in this process?

My environment (Iowa) is home. Pastoral, bucolic, lush, green, and harnessed. For me, the reassuring theme is that the viewer is always aware of mans presence when looking at an Iowa landscape. Those ridged fence rows, and squared off rectangular fields and woodlots present a never ending source of design possibilities. Reassuring us that we are never that far away from civilization, food, comfort and man. In Iowa the wildness is still there, but subdued. It has been harnessed and there is something deeply comforting in that.

My medium is acrylic. It affords me a flexible, workable, durable and dependable conduit. I say conduit because after a 35 year career using acrylics, it has become an old friend who knows my mind better than I do. We have reached an understanding. I demand that it dry immediately and it does; and it watches me goof up repeatedly and never says a word.

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