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ARTIST STATEMENT

Gail Byrnes

Much of my childhood was spent roaming the woods where I

felt deeply connected to the world of nature - tree and plant,

river and stream, sky and cloud, sun and moon. The woods

were my friend and where I spent much of my spare time

exploring, mostly by myself. I brought my sadness, grief, and

worries to the woods, and always felt comforted.

Something else happened during my time in the woods. I

noticed light and shadows, coolness and heat. I saw what was

clearly visible when I was alert and present, and what became

visible when I was daydreaming. Faces and shapes appeared

everywhere - in the clouds, in the swirling water, in the

patterns of leaves, pine needles and animal tracks on the

ground. I saw the life force in all. The natural world fed me.

Over these past few years, I have been primarily making spirit

dolls, but during this term, I felt a need to paint. I love working

in many different mediums, but I was called to simplicity this

term, seeking to express the beauty of wildflowers, which are

near and dear to my heart.