Sea Smoke

Karen Owsley Nease

oil on cradled wood panel
24 x 48 x 1.75 in

The "Sea Smoke" paintings, which exist within a larger topography series, are meant to blur the line between water and sky, capturing the ephemeral essence of sea smoke as particulates and waves fluxing in and out of some alternative form of creational matter.

Maybe this spontaneous form of matter is the historical ether of early 20th century physics - maybe something unknown. What matters is that it's a place of beginning and end, where form comes into shape and drifts back into raw material. The shapes traverse the horizon, echoing how sea smoke rises and mixes with the atmosphere. The inanimate is very much animated through rich texture and superposition.

The interaction of purples, violets, green, turquoise and red defines perceptional scale, drawing viewers deeper into the painting as it's clear we are seeing something essential to the elements of pure light, sky, and water as separate embodied substances. These works combine physical and cognitive landscapes, inviting an exploration of the interplay between natural elements and their deeper meanings. The series transcends traditional landscapes, offering a profound commentary on interconnectedness.

This piece was part of the "FOUND HORIZONS: Imagined Topographies" exhibition at the JHP Art Gallery.

Interested in This Piece?

To inquire about this painting, please contact Karen Nease directly:

• Email: Nease.Karen@gmail.com