Artist Statements:
I paint to discover the reality of nature and to celebrate its complexity of form and meaning. My practice combines studio work with field observations I obtain while traversing western landscapes near where I live. I’m a rocks and plants type of person as I’m far more interested in systems and mathematics than figures. My paintings are the culmination of my attempt to form relationships with the landscapes that I live in. I read about their history and the geological and botanical nature of the place. I spend time observing their various characteristics throughout different times of day and different seasons. While beauty is a captivating guideline, my work is more about creating understanding and empathy than it is about idealization. Instead of “capturing” the most appealing views or compositions, I think of my work as a series of ongoing offerings to the powers of place.
Bio:
Eric Jensen is an abstract landscape painter with a passion for natural environments. His practice is built out of a contemporary east coast art education and many years living in the western landscapes of the United States. These influences have culminated in an interest to unify different areas of learning, like science, spirituality, and art, in order to empower ecological preservation efforts and establish cultural values. He has formed a landscape painting practice that looks critically at the way our society perceives the land and is working to create a stronger relationship with the land he lives in. Born in Utah, raised and educated in Virginia, Eric is now living in Billings, MT after finishing an MFA in painting at the University of Montana.
