DAVID LIDBETTER

The scenes that capture me are often the ones that would immediately be overlooked by others. Something usually catches my eye, such as a change of light or a strong contrast of colour and shapes. I look for inspiration in what may be considered bleak and desolate landscapes. A blanket of winter snow with a single bare tree silhouetted against a cold grey sky. A band of translucent, pale orange light breaking through a dark storm cloud over a frozen lake or a single autumn leaf left hanging after the first winter storm provides endless possibilities for dramatic paintings. By looking past what one might consider the more conventional beauty of nature, I attempt to illuminate the unexpected. I love the surprising natural sense of balance and design found in landscape. The line, the abstract space and fractured colour are what interest me most. After a few sketches and photographs, I will return to my studio where I continue to strip down and fine-tune the scene to its most minimalist composition. Woven into the design and abstraction is an even more important element. For me, my landscapes must have emotional content. Feelings of isolation, solitude and quiet pervade in my works. I am not interested in painting pretty pictures.

Moonlight is a reflection of sunlight, giving it a softer, cooler glow and creating a more muted illumination compared to the intense, direct brightness of sunlight. While sunlight can energize and heat, moonlight tends to create a serene and tranquil ambiance.”