Michael Bentley
Michael Bentley - New Works -April 8th, 2022
Inception to Conclusion: The Perceivable Healing Power of Water
Works on Paper - Artist Statement
I’ve been very fortunate to live on and experience the pristine Eastern shore of Nova Scotia.
Since 2010, my works on paper have focused primarily on Abstract Seascapes. Seeing the dramatic shifts in the weather patterns -
from raging seas to the surreal stillness of glass, and all in between, leaves me in a daily state of awe of which there are no words.
I try to express it in the paintings.
What drives and inspires me has always been nature and spirituality, which I feel are infinitely intertwined together.
There is no escaping the impact of raw nature on the body, mind and soul. A very personal, yet universal sentiment.
With the state of the world these days, for me, these works lean more towards tranquil, calm imagery to generate a sense of sanctuary in quiet beauty.
Even the physical process of capturing my version of this complex ecosystem brings me a sense of peace, just to be in that mindset.
My medium is gouache on paper, with an archival finishing process to allow the work to be viewed without being under glass. The vastness of the landscape lends itself to large format which has led me to work with pieces sizing up to 4 x 8 feet. The size feels appropriate and my goal is to draw the viewer into the image. The method involves multiple layers of washes. There’s an inherent freedom to the application as the gouache allows for fluidity and movement. The transformation of the pigment and texture as it dries and bonds to the paper is what always keeps me coming back to gouache. Always changing and challenging, much like the sea itself.
The paintings aren’t meant to depict a particular place, but to bring a place to mind.
Thomas Merton explained it so well when he said,
“Art enables us to find ourselves and lose ourselves at the same time.”