ANDREA GABEL
Biography
Plein air landscape painting, which is executing a painting outdoors, has been a passion of mine for many years. Being outdoors while painting has brought me much joy and many skills, including how to laugh as your wet painting blows away and lands in the dirt face down.
I regularly paint outdoors, but have also found a new love for painting larger and more creatively in my studio space. In this way, my love of landscapes comes out with an abstract twist. I recreate a landscape that I painted outdoors using my original plein air painting and photographs. I love to experiment using more creative approaches. The paint itself is applied in diverse ways, color choices are more planned, various shapes are emphasized. I often start with a specific vision or idea, but will not hesitate to go a different course as I am lead by new ideas and thoughts. Some paintings I struggle with, others are easy. With such a heavy background in plain air painting, I've developed an ability to paint fast and gestural. I had a teacher once tell me to stop early on the progression of a painting because it had a freshness and aliveness that would be lost if I continued further. I've learned to love this style of painting.
As my painting journey continues, I will enjoy new ways of expression. It's something I'll never grow tired of and has been a part of my life since childhood.
