For Corrinne Wolcoski, painting landscapes across the West Coast and the Rockies is about creating a sense of place - allowing viewers to feel immersed in the landscape as light and weather unfold. With more than 20 years of experience capturing moments in nature, Corrinne delves deeper into her influences, creative process, sharing how her paintings come together and the instinctive feeling that tells her a piece is complete.

There’s a balance between structure and intuition in your pieces. How do you navigate that while creating?

Using plein air studies, photographs and travel experiences I am able to compose large landscape paintings. In the initial phases, create a block in. This outline of the composition captures the major shapes and hues of the scene I am depicting. The painting is 75-80% complete when I have completed 3 to 4 layers of oils. It is at this point, that I discard all my reference materials and draw on my personal experiences to finish the piece. These final layers of oils are placed to illuminate and create dramatic light.

When I stand back to view the painting and I sense the same serene beauty I saw in the landscape when I was there, I know I am finished.

Do you start with a clear idea, or does the work evolve more organically?

As l travel along the West Coast and into the Rocky Mountains, I create plein air sketches. My continual study of the changing landscape & countless hours observing the quality of the light provides me with an endless inspiration for new paintings.

A specific location may be mundane and flat (dull light, overcast weather, lack of colour) but if I am patient, magic happens. During these trips and studies, there will be moments when the light streams through and illuminates the landscape creating a ‘glow’ effect.

The beauty I discover in nature is what drives my passion to paint and inspires me to create new work.

There are moments I experience in the landscape (changing light and weather) when I have a sense of happiness and true appreciation for nature. I file these moments in my memory to use when I return to my studio to create large scale paintings. Recalling these moments in the studio allows me to create new work.

How do you want viewers to experience your work when they encounter it in person?

When people see my paintings, I hope they can connect with the beauty of nature by drawing from their own experiences. The importance of enjoying and preserving our environment for the future develops by building a true sense of appreciation for it. I find it very meaningful when my work brings enjoyment to the viewer and provides a place where they can escape using their own experiences in the natural landscape.

What are you currently exploring that feels new or challenging?

This summer I will be travelling to Whistler to explore the Coastal Mountain Range. With access to more remote parts of this area, I will be collecting reference materials (plein air sketches and photography) . This will give me the tools to create a new series of work which will be completed in early Fall.

Spending time in the Rocky Mountains and the Pacific Northwest allows me the freedom create paintings that connect me to nature.