Painting in a pandemic

“The happiest of all lives is a busy solitude” — Voltaire

Like everyone else, the pandemic brought about an involuntary isolation this year. Working alone has always suited me, finding inspiration and peace in the solitude of my own thoughts. I painted in three isolated locations, my yard, on a fellow artist’s rural land, and in the Arc of Appalachia Nature Reserve.

Previously ordinary structures have been the subject matter of my paintings. The change to the cadence of life provoked a change in subject matter. Being alone in the forrest with the sound of nature inspired a new choice of subject matter, light and pallet and provided a much needed reprieve from the chaos in the world.

While I found this year incredibly satisfying from an artistic standpoint, I miss the company of other artists, along with visiting galleries and museums, attending openings and having people over for dinner.

Michele BonDurant

Michele BonDurant