1 Photo
There’s something mysterious about the way each of Joanne Rosko’s landscapes captures a particular vista infused with light. Perhaps that’s because she starts out painting on location and focusing first on the way the light interacts with the natural elements.
Ms. Rosko’s paintings were on view this month in an expansive solo show at the Levitas Gallery for the Arts at Southampton Cultural Center. The exhibition, “Beaches, Bays & Back Roads,” was on view through December 20 and featured 54 oil paintings by the Southampton artist.
Several of her paintings are currently on view in the “Winter Light” group show at the Quogue Library Art Gallery through December 30.
Ms. Rosko is a member of Plein Air Peconic, an organization whose artist-members work
en plein air
(painting on site outdoors) to capture natural vistas. In a unique collaboration with the Peconic Land Trust, the painters and photographers of the group are granted access to preserved tracts in order to create art inspired by the landscape and seascapes.
With the other members of Plein Air Peconic, Ms. Rosko has exhibited her paintings at the Grenning Gallery in Sag Harbor, the Terry Wallace Gallery in East Hampton, the South Street Gallery in Greenport and other venues. Separately, Ms. Rosko has exhibited at the Water Mill Museum, East Hampton Town Hall, the East End Arts Council, the Artist Members Show at Guild Hall, and other venues.
Her paintings are not strictly representational, relying as they do on either impressionism or realism to create compositions according to how the vista strikes her. No matter which approach she employs, Ms. Rosko aims to channel the gratitude she feels in witnessing such natural beauty while painting on location. In this way, the sense of serenity that viewers have remarked on when looking at her art seems to be no accident.
“I feel really peaceful when I paint,” she said. “It’s not a meditation. You’re so present—so in the moment—and totally encompassed by what you’re doing.”
For Ms. Rosko, being in synch with her art and her surroundings helps her to channel the spiritual. Painting the natural world while being surrounded by it makes her feel humble and connected to God.
“I have gratitude. I’m humbled. I’m in awe of God’s creation,” Ms. Rosko said. “I believe there is no way all of this could be an accident. I feel so moved to be able to be a part of it.”
As part of her process, Ms. Rosko makes an underpainting and blocks out colors in relation to a vanishing point, working to capture the image and mood while creating a sense of depth.
She then moves on to painting the sky and capturing the quality of light. In water views, Ms. Rosko concentrates on depicting the intensity of the light, doing most of the painting on location and completing the work in her Southampton studio.
“The light changes so quickly,” she said. “I sketch a little, but it’s the light I’m interested in. I just paint what impresses me at that moment.”
Ms. Rosko is drawn to include water in her paintings because of its ever-changing moods and appearance. Lately, she’s started including barns that have fallen into disrepair or been abandoned.
“They made me melancholy,” she said. “Someone has put them in the past and they shouldn’t be there. They should be in the now. There’s something of ‘let’s not forget’ in my wanting to paint them.”
Another recent change has been making paintings just before sunset.
“The intensity of light right before it gets dark is amazing,” she said.
Ms. Rosko has been painting local vistas full time for about six years. She finds diversity in the way the land and water change with the seasons, the time of day, and the random conditions that collide to create something special. When that happens, Ms. Rosko pulls her car over, gets out her easel and begins to paint.
“I feel I can see real beauty,” she said. “Some places just draw me.”
Ms. Rosko’s artwork can be viewed at http://webmac.com/joannerosko. For information or commissions, call 516-702-3631 or e-mail jmrosko@optonline.net.
on Jan 2, 2010