Artist Statement:
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 walking the landscapes near where I live. I’m a rocks and plants type of person; I’m interested in complex systems and very long lengths of time. My paintings are evidence of my attempts to form relationships with the landscapes that I live in. I read about their history, study the geological and botanical aspects of the land, and try to open my mind to the place. I spend time observing their various characteristics throughout different times of day and different seasons. While beauty can be captivating, my work is about creating understanding and empathy to push back against 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 land and place.
Bio:
Eric Jensen is an abstract landscape painter with a focus on spiritual relationships with place. His practice is based around an animist worldview, contemporary art education, and a commitment to environment conservation. 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 and community he lives in. Born in Utah, raised and educated in Virginia, Eric is now living in Billings, MT where he teaches at MSU Billings and Rocky Mountain College.
