Kirstie Cohen CV and artists statement
view Kirstie's paintings

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Kirstie Cohen's landscapes are suffused with the mysterious atmosphere of the Scottish hills and coast. Born in Edinburgh and raised in North Berwick, Kirstie's work has been influenced by the sweeping panoramas of the east coast as well as the Highlands where she now lives. Working from her studio on an isolated Highland croft, she creates magical evocations of our wild hills and shores onto canvas. The elemental essence of land and sea are described using masterfully worked veils of oil paint like spun silk to powerful effect. Highlights of jewel-pure colour thread through the mists to evoke the shimmer of sky and water and sunlight above strong presences of mountain or rock. "My painting lies within the context of the northern romantic landscape tradition. I try and convey the essence of land, sea and sky and express a sense of space light or mood of the moment rather than depict a specific location as this creates a boundary that restricts the process of developing the work. It is overall a more emotional cathartic response. The ongoing process of applying paint to canvas, gradually building layer upon layer, eventually evolves its own luminosity and depth. It is a process that is continual and vital in all its hidden frustrations. The elemental ideas of diffusion, suspension and reflection are key concerns, contributing to the final dynamic of the painting." Gazing at Kirstie's paintings, our minds can escape from the pressures of everyday life to experience the magnificence of wild places. Our eyes can be delighted and entranced by the depths of her dexterous handling of paint surfaces.

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