While color is often a significant element to any artist’s process, Erin Hanson has made it a primary focus in her coastal landscape paintings. Beginning in early October, she presents Alchemist of Color,an exhibition of 16 new, vibrant pieces hosted by the Channel Islands Maritime Museum—bringing to life “kaleidoscopic scenes” containing “perfect harmonies, splendid contrasts, delicate gradations, wild depth and natural power,” describes Olivia Williamson, museum collections and exhibitions manager.
Coastal in Red, oil on canvas, 30 x 30"
Hansen shares that several years ago, she exclusively focused on the color orange for The Orange Show, exhibited in her own gallery. “This gave me the idea to have a ‘rainbow wall’ for Alchemist of Color,” she says. “[I first] created six, 30-by-30-inch paintings of coastal landscapes, each focused on a single color: red, orange, yellow, green, blue and purple. Each painting was created with a limited palette of only four or five pigments…allowing me to create vivid, un-muddied colors that ignite the imagination.”
She continues, “To me, color is the first thing we see when we look at a painting. It is the emotional part that grabs you, makes you gasp, makes you feel tension, peace, joy or a myriad of other feelings. I love that I have created a style that lets me experiment and play with color.”
Coastal in Yellow, oil on canvas, 30 x 30"
What has resulted is a rich display of natural scenery in works like Coastal in Red, inspired by a sunset from the Monterey Peninsula; Coastal in Yellow, inspired by yellow lupins; and Coastal in Blue, from the blue shadows Hanson found among the coastal rocks.
“I have spent a lot of time exploring California’s Highway 1 between Carmel and Cambria (south of Big Sur),” the artist explains of her subject matter. “This is the most beautiful section of the Pacific Coast, in my opinion. I love to paint the dramatic cliffs, which change color from season to season, the ever-changing turquoise waters and the white sandy beaches that reflect the color of the sky.”
Coastal in Orange, oil on canvas, 30 x 30"
Unique and quite distinctive to Hanson’s work is her use of “open impressionism” —a technique that she’s developed over the past 20 years, which also enhances her “color wheel” theme. “My style involves minimal brush strokes and the impasto application of paint,” she says. “Unlike traditional oil painters, who build up their paintings layer-by-layer, I place my brush strokes side-by-side, without overlapping, and I work to get each stroke right the first time. The distinct, separated brush strokes give my paintings a mosaic or stained-glass appearance, while also conveying a sense of movement and spontaneity.”
Coastal in Blue, oil on canvas, 30 x 30"
In Coastal in Orange, we see this dynamic technique play out—where the land, trees, water and sky seem to pulse with energy, as if taking on a life of their very own. “I want my artwork to give people a deeper appreciation of the outdoors and all the colors that appear in nature,” says Hanson, “especially during ‘golden hour.’ I hope my work provides excitement, joy and inspiration.”
Hanson’s exhibition of new work will open October 5, with an artist’s reception on Thursday, October 12 from 4 to 6 p.m. Paintings will hang through December 28. —
Channel Islands Maritime Museum
October 5-December 28, 2023
3900 Bluefin Circle • Oxnard, CA 93035
(805) 984-6260 • www.cimmvc.org
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