Michael Thomas Gillies

Fifty Works of Inscape

University of South Alabama Library
Third Floor Gallery
July 1, 2010 – August 31, 2010

Most of Mr. Gillies’ works are considered inscapes, or a derivative of internal renderings inspired by nature. The weather, mood, time of day, visualization of color, and natural environment all play a role in this form of art making. While inspired by his surroundings, it is the intuitive relationship of mark making that interests Mr. Gillies.

Many of these works are manipulated in the studio using a varied palette of exaggerated color which may in some instances dominate the space. Mr. Gillies works primarily in a mixed media fashion and enjoys using watercolor, tempera paint, and dye interchangeably with dry media. The dry media often acts to define areas of abstract color found in the wet media.

Conceptually, the artwork is derived from nature with glimpses of imaginative color intertwined, and rendered to suggest an intuitive or dreamlike existence. While formal aspects of the landscape are present, it is the instinctive marks that resonate form to the environment. Hopefully, the viewer will experience this nature in a new and thought provoking way.