Tracy Haines

 

I paint colorful, expressionistic landscapes in pastel, oil,  and acrylic.  I love the beauty of the Colorado landscape and hope to convey to the viewer the joy and happiness I feel in creating these works, which to me, are a celebration of the richness of life. 


The process begins with a loose, colorful, robust underpainting.. The early stages of the process are fast moving, fun and largely engage the more carefree right side of the brain.  After this, I slow down a bit, rein things in and switch to more analytic thinking. Here, compositional elements, drawing and values are carefully considered. Once I am satisfied the elements of strong design are in place, I go full force into intuitive painting again, letting the piece itself dictate any further changes needed. There is often a push-pull kind of dance towards the end, where areas may be excavated or added to, before the piece announces itself done.  


Viewers often remark on my use of color, and of the joy they feel viewing these works, which thrill me as a painter.  Art can feel like a selfish endeavor at times, but I try to paint with the viewer in mind, and hope to elevate the human spirit with my work.