One of my artistic missions is to evoke a love of nature and reveal the spiritual experiences hidden therein. I have focused on State and National Park landscapes and abstracts for the last ten years, but that pursuit was stymied by the pandemic. As I examine my subjects, I pull the colors out and reduce the lines down. I take from the most interesting areas of my subjects, placing sections into a cohesive composition of lines and areas of visual interest. I use color to either portray the subject so that it is recognizable or to exaggerate that which we think we see. I use color to examine the details of the different layers and I use color to convey feeling. I start with the foundational layers. I outline to define areas of contrast as in a stained-glass window. I may add highlights and shadows with short strokes and dots. My goal is to create an interpretation of the way I respond emotionally to my subjects through the use of color and line. - Betsy Horn