“In wilderness is preservation of the world”
henry david thoreau
Gavin Brooks is foremost a landscape painter best known for atmospheric
landscape compositions of coastal themes and pastoral vistas. Layering
years of drawing and classical atelier training with a contemporary
painting approach she emerged with a unique style where luminosity and
abstraction are united in a broad range of sophisticated compositions.
The emphasis blends spirited brushwork, strong design, tonal unity and
the decisive use of neutrals to support color relationships. Gavin is
driven by a pursuit for an elegant and modern presentation of emotional
content in nature. . “I especially like humidity, weather and miles of
air for the effects contrast and color in the outdoors”.
Rather than identifying herself as a “plein air ‘ painter the artist
considers her outdoor paintings as simply the foundation material for
in-depth studio works. In front of the big easel, she is driven by her
vision for statement, referring to a series of small panels “blocked in”
to record the color and value relationships she wants to build upon.
With these, Gavin focuses on a process she calls “reconstruction”. There
is a fondness for areas of abstraction as she reorganizes reality by
rearranging the elements; creating deeper perspective, forcing lines,
controlling information and creating mood through deliberate editing and
selection. The studio works are often a combination of impastos over
glazes of thinner paint and layers of color. She relies on a highly
developed visual memory and attention to nature through years of
observation and understanding. My paintings are of nature broken down
and simplified. I distinguish which details and nuances to include and
even these are redesigned and altered to deliver a single moment ”
She lives and works in the Greenspring Valley area of Maryland with her
family. She travels extensively to exhibit, teach, lecture and study
the landcape throughout the year. Her works are private collections
and galleries nationwide.
Education
Lynn University, Boca Raton, FL 1980
Florida Atlantic University at Boca Raton, FL
1982
College
of Notre Dame Baltimore , MD.1985
The
Schuler School of Fine Art Baltimore , MD 2002
Independent
Study
Scott Christensen 2002
-2004
Juried
Exhibitions and Awards
Oil
Painters of America National Exhibition Taos
NM 2002
Oil
Painters of America Exhibition Richmond
VA 2001
Paint
Annapolis 2004 MAPAPA - Award of Merit
2004
Plein
Air Easton 2005 Grand Prize Winner
Award
of Excellence Plein Air Magazine 2005
Plein
Air Easton 2006 - Best Pastoral Painting and Honorable Mention
Academy of Art Museum Award PA Easton 2009
Utrecht Best Use if Light PA Easton 2009
Selected Books and Periodicals
Landscape
Painting: Essential Concepts and Techniques for Plein Air and Studio
Practice by Mitch Albala Watson Guptil/Random House 2009
American
Artist Workshop Magazine Summer 2009
American
Artist Magazine November 2009
American
Art Collector May 2007
Cape Cod
Life December 2007
Gentry
Magazine February 2006
Who’s
Who in America
2006/2007
Fine
Art Connoisseur
Feature
August 2005
Museum
Collections
Academy
Art Museum, Easton, Maryland
Selected Exhibitions and Events
April 2008 PapSe Exhibition, St Simons Island, GA Anderson Fine Art
May 2008 Solo Landscape Exhibition, Monkton MD, Ladew
GardensMuseum
May 6 2008 Paint Wilmington, NC
June 2007 Solo Exhibition
Easton MD, South Street Fine Art
June 2007 Solo Exhibition, Cape Cod, MA Addison Art
November 2006/2007 Boston International Fine
Arts Show
November 2007 Three Person Exhibition, Wilmington, NC Walls Fine Art
May 2007 -Paint Wilmington, NC
January 2006 –Solo Exhibition, San Francisco, CA, Fraser Fine
Art
June 2006 – Inaugural Exhibition, Upperville, VA, Loudon Society
June 2006 NAPPAP Exhibition Winter Park, CO Elkhorn Gallery
June 2006 Solo Exhibition, Monkton, MD, Ladew Museum
July 2006 Plein Air Easton, Easton MD, Academy of Art Museum
September 2006 Solo Exhibition, Cape Cod, MA, Addison Art
July 2005 Solo Exhibition Cape Cod, MA, Addison Art
July 2005 Plein Air Easton, Easton MD, Academy Art Museum
August 2004 Solo Exhibition, Ennis, MT
August 2004 Two Person Show, Annapolis, MD, McBride Gallery
September 2004 MAPAPA Juried Competition, Annapolis
MD.
April 2003 OPA National Juried Exhibition, Taos NM
June 2002 OPA Regional East Exhibition,
Richmond, VA
Memberships
Plein
Air Painters of the Southeast Secretary 2009
Oil
Painters of America 2001-2005
Laguna
Plein Air Painters 2003-2005
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