About My Art
Christina Romano Puckett
My work draws on the California landscape tradition developed in the later part of the 19th Century. Artist like Bierstadt, Hill and Struck gave, not only a grand romantic scope to their works; they gave an attention to reality that showed the details of their California. I, too, have found California has dramatic scenery that can be positively uplifting and joyful to behold, and this is what I strive to capture in my works. My California is a very fascinating, benevolent and beautiful place, yet very challenging to portray.
Thirty years ago, I studied painting at university, but I found I had to abandon these teachings, as they were steeped in negative, simplistic post modernism. Fortunately, I studied American History, as well, and this led me to old west artists like Catlin and Russell. Then I started to really explore the West and California in particular. Thanks to all the roads, equipment and vehicles, I am able to paint sights that I'm sure, the old artists would have jumped at a chance to paint.
My landscape paintings are pieces of personal property that extol the potential of the land. What these scenes convey is a sense of deep exploration of 'terra cognita'. My work neither accepts the out doors as a hostile untamed place or an untouched Eden from which man has fallen. Rather, I depict affirmation of man's ability to move over the land, to make our home and be at home on the land, and to explore as well as delight in California.
These paintings are about both physical and conceptual real estate. In short, they are symbols for all that is right in the world, freedom, reason and the ability to prosper and enjoy ourselves in a world we can own both physically and conceptually.
If you wonder why there are few obvious figures or buildings in my works, it is because I am too selfish to share my conceptual real estate with anyone else. It is my view; I've earned it. But if you enjoy my work and wish to make these vistas your own, please do.
