"On the Point"

48" x 36"
acrylic on canvas



Aside from the urge to portray a slightly different landscape and to further study gulls and take my compositions to another level, On the Point is a painting about navigating uncharted horizons. The unpredictable nature of things is often cause for contemplation, and I wanted to get a sense of that here. The figure is in a state of limbo, facing the new and unknown, focusing in on a course, unmoved by the devouring frenzy that surrounds her. Tone and atmosphere were important factors for me in this. The fog is symbolic of a curtain about to unveil something hidden, and I want viewers to be able to feel that damp mist and wind, stand on the brink, smell the coast, feel the sun about to break through, hear the birds; all the sensations associated with the everchanging moods of a coastal landscape.

"Night Hill"

36" x 24"
acrylic on canvas



This was the first painting I completed for my new set of work for my solo exhibition. Stemming partly from a need to explore a night palette, as well as to represent the mood and mystery personally associated with night itself, Night Hill speaks of those still moments where our subconscious takes over. I have sat on the shores of Lake Huron many times at night, listening to its crashing waves, feeling the breeze and seeing the stars. Each time, I couldn't help but realize how small I felt alongside the universe as it stretched up and on into dark oblivion. We make up such a small part of it, despite our immense impact; mere fireflies which circle about, lighting the way before flickering out.

I came across this very stagecoach at an antique shop on the side of the road on U.S. 23 one day. It was strangely intriguing to me, and I thought, why not put it up on the hill? It encompassed an ethereal almost spiritual quality, like an artifact of the supernatural realm, where all things legendary and ghostly dwell. Fire holds several meanings for me, and I often find my thoughts unintentionally centering around the concept of duality as I paint, coming to realize its steady presence at the core of my pictures. The real and unreal, history and the present, opposing emotions, endings and beginnings, nature's seasons and cycles, all of it is present there. I wanted this painting to capture night's magical quality, when the unreal feels realer than anything.

Quote of the Day

"Every day we should hear at least one little song, read one good poem, see one exquisite picture, and, if possible, speak a few sensible words." -Goethe

Solo Show info & new work!

It's a wrap for this show! All new work is now posted on my website, so feel free to visit and check it out! Above is the show card for the event. In the days to come, I'll begin posting work individually here on the blog with some personal tidbits behind each painting.

If any of you are out on Long Island next week, make sure to mark Sag Harbor as a destination so you can see the show. I look forward to meeting new faces and sharing my work with you!

Please Save the Date and Join Us for a
Collection of New Work by Andrea Kowch

Andrea Kowch: American Magic Realism

Opening Reception
Saturday, July 17
6:00 pm - 8:00 pm

Richard J. Demato Fine Arts Gallery
90 Main Street
Sag Harbor, NY 11963
(631) 725-1161
rjdgallery.com