Shannon Estlund
In my landscape paintings, I use overlapping and contradictory
information in order to incorporate multiple meanings, inviting
the viewer to become an active participant by interpreting the
work. Many of my paintings feature potential destinations in the
far distance, welcoming viewers into deep illusionistic space
while simultaneously resisting their entry with passages of paint
that sit on the surface of the canvas or panel.
In my work, I investigate the relationship between the individual
and place. My subject matter is focused on unidealized natural
spaces that are not normally a destination for anyone. They tend
to be overlooked areas near dirt roads and houses, but outside
everyday human use. What these spaces offer is an aesthetic
experience that allows one to exist in the moment, as well as the
potential for exploration and adventure. They are spaces that are
both real and imaginary, that are complex and difficult to move
through, and that function both as instances of actual sensory
experience and metaphors for decisive moments in everyday life.