Vivian Chesterley

My paintings express the timelessness of salt water untouched by humans: the beauty,magnificence, peace and power the sea holds. My current paintings are abstracted realism of the Salish Sea. Bold, moody, sometime ethereal, yet peaceful.  I paint the light reflecting off the surface of the water, the light that is absorbed by the water and is reflected back to the surface.

My paintings incorporate a variety of techniques: palette knife texture, splotches, drips, sprayed dots, wiping out, and sponge stamping, as well as traditional brush strokes - whatever seems to work for the painting!

I begin in a totally abstract way by laying down color randomly. Then I look at what is on the canvas and "converse" with the canvas. When the canvas and I have come to an agreement in our conversation, I proceed. This "conversation" goes on until the painting is finished.