Artist Laurie Hatch presents a collection of landscape paintings that capture the seasons and bring nature to life. Visit her website to learn more.
“Fall Field in Wales, New York” oil on canvas, 36″ x 48″
People often ask how I got started painting, and why do I do it. That’s a bit of a tough question. I was always drawing something as a kid. As I got a little older, my father, who was friendly with a fairly well-known artist in Western New York where I grew up, arranged for me to take painting lessons from him.
“English Plane Trees” oil on canvas, 16″ x 20″
Carl Illig was a wonderful painter who studied with and painted with Emille Grupe and Arthur Kowalski, so I learned in the American Impressionist style. I grew up on 130 acres outside Buffalo, New York where my parents had a small horse farm. The property and surrounding countryside was beautiful, with endless subject to paint. Woods, meadows, fields, and creeks.
“The Clam Digger 2″ oil on canvas, 30″ x 40”
After marrying, I moved with my family to Austin, Texas where I continued to paint. There were no end of subjects, and I had much unexpected success through a wonderful gallery owner and agent.
“Quiet English Lane” oil on canvas board, 16″ x 20″
Later, we moved to Southeast Florida and most recently to Upstate South Carolina. I now have my studio in Greenville, with endless subjects to paint. I am primarily a landscape painter. I’ve been fortunate in that as well as local subjects, our eldest daughter lives in England, so we have been able to travel there and other places in Europe. This affords me plenty of ideas for my paintings.
“Early Fall Upstate South Carolina” oil on canvas, 24″ x 30″
Why do I paint? It’s a reasonable question. The short answer is that I want to capture a scene that has captured me. I strive to produce a painting that allows the viewer to enter the scene and fill in the blanks rather than to leave nothing to his imagination.
“Passing Rain Storm in the Texas Hill Country” oil on canvas, 30″ x 40″
My method is to suggest rather than clearly define. My hope is that the viewer can “get inside” my paintings. As I embark on the adventure of creating a new work, even though I am now at age 80, I am always reminded of my teacher saying, “Lets make a painting.” I hope you enjoy my work.