Featured Artist Dorothy Mohler

Artist Dorothy Mohler presents a portfolio of contemporary landscapes and portraits based on her life in the Pacific Northwest. See more of her delightful art by visiting her website.

 

 

My passion and ability as an artist came late in life due to a traumatic brain injury twenty-five years ago. Suddenly I was left with an ability to see and draw colors, an ability that was not present prior to the injury. I call this brain injury my “mixed blessing.”

 

 

This mixed blessing keeps me sensitive and deeply inspired by the keen beauty of nature. I see the world around us in many layers and that is just the way I paint—applying many layers of paint, ink and pencil detail. Many layers are transformative for me and eventually bring satisfaction.

 

 

My focus on distinct subjects varies, however. There is a constant universal connection, and that is the world around me.

 

 

Being raised at a very young age to get out in the world and look up at the trees and the sky, to really listen to the birds and the frogs, has made me grateful for the opportunity to translate that lesson my parents taught me onto canvas.

 

 

Whether I am painting a woman in my “Women in Nature” series or birds in my “It’s a Party” series—which features different birds surrounded by party flags—I create colorful paintings inspired by nature. In my work you will always find birds, flowers, trees and other uniquely rendered visions from my day to day life in the Pacific Northwest.

 

 

I am by no means trying to change the world with my art. I am just so thrilled to be alive and painting every day. Hopefully, people will see joy and humor when looking at my work.

 

 

When one of my paintings sells, it brings me so much happiness. It confirms that other people see what I see, and that I need to keep doing what I am doing.

 

 

For the past five years, I have only painted on wood. I love the connection to wood (trees) and how impermeable it is. Using extra thick birch panels gives a painting a unique look and sturdiness as well as a slightly modern feel when I leave the edges completely raw.

 

 

In my current work you will find geometric shapes in the background and in between leaves and pine needles. I love the juxtaposition between the soft and expected aspects of nature and the interesting squares interjected throughout the background.

 

 

Both my original artwork and my reproductions have been featured widely in Bend, Oregon and Sisters, Oregon. Having recently moved to the Oregon coast, I undoubtedly will be inspired artistically by the beauty of the sea.

 

Artist Dorothy Mohler invites you to follow her on Facebook and Instagram.

 

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