In this painting, I have layered multiple perspectives. There is a sense of space that goes from very deep to very shallow. There is a grid and structural elements, and a wood grain that has a silly quality, like a faux finish for the circus—I am bringing a sense of scale to the ambiguous landscape. In doing so, I allow just enough familiarity for assumptions and associations, which sets-up the very important element of surprise. My landscapes are structured on tension and surprise.
Please see more of my work at www.michellemackey.com (I welcome comments).