A graduate of both the University of Utah and Brigham Young University, Provo artist Abigale Palmer uses bold color to breathe life into her portrait, still life and landscape work. These two landscape-inspired paintings are representative of her response to the variety of landscapes she finds surrounding her in Utah.

“I create high chroma representations of mountains, fields and desert landscapes exploring themes of chasing our dreams and aspirations with all the beauty and adversity that come with it,” she says. “Studying color and the breadth of human emotion it conveys from the light and whimsical to the deep, dark, and heavy corners of our capacity to feel is one of my passions. To use unworldly combinations of color in an effort to convey the range of emotions that accompany the human experience through contemporary landscapes.”

In “Blue Jay,” the mountains are depicted with a bold choice of colors. The use of blues and purples in the mountain range conveys a sense of majesty and the mysterious. The strokes are broad and confidently applied, giving the landscape a feeling of movement and change – much like the ever-evolving journey towards personal goals.

“Winding Up” offers a more structured composition, with rolling hills and a winding path leading through the scene. This path may symbolize the journey itself, with its bends and curves reflecting the unpredictability of chasing dreams. The presence of trees and shadows suggests both growth and the obstacles that cast shadows on our path.

Palmer’s exploration of emotion through color is evident in both pieces, as each hue seems carefully chosen to evoke a specific feeling or atmosphere, from the lightness of the sky to the darkness of the shadows. The textural quality of the paint application adds a tactile dimension to the visual experience, inviting the viewer to feel the landscapes as much as see them.

READ MORE ABOUT THE ARTIST AND VIEW MORE OF HER WORK

Artists of Utah’s 35×35, Finch Lane Gallery, Salt Lake City, through Feb. 23

15 Bytes

UTAH’S ART MAGAZINE SINCE 2001, 15 Bytes is published by Artists of Utah, a 501 (c) 3 non-profit organization headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah.