I was hooked on the French Impressionist and Post Impressionist painters by the age of fifteen.  Ever since, I have been on a journey perfecting my techniques and experimenting with different strokes, color combinations, and compositions in nature.
 

The constant motion of the ocean, ever-changing colors in the sky, intriguing shapes the clouds form, and still grandeur of the mountains are both an inspiration and challenge for me.  Most of my oil pastels are done at my alternate office-nature.  I select my favorite oil pastels and use them as a template for some of my acrylic paintings.

When I paint my oceanscapes I try to re-create the peaceful feeling I have when I am watching and listening to the movement of the waves. The ocean is always in motion and makes me feel alive.  The clouds are sometimes fluffy and create interesting shapes.  Do you remember when you were a child finding animals in the clouds? This is something I am exploring in my work.

Although I prefer being at the ocean, painting mountains is very exciting. The mountains are very quiet and still; I think people love mountains because they can ground themselves by finding their still voice that lives deep within. Mountainscapes present the challenge of finishing before it gets too cold outside.  The shapes of the mountains and the shapes within the mountain create a beautiful picture.  The sunlight on the mountain creates a rainbow of colors; this also helps define its 3D structure.

When I begin a sunset I never know what the final result will be.  I have to work very fast because the light changes rapidly and so does the magnificent colors in the sky.  From beginning to end the canvas is constantly changing until I find myself painting in the darkness. I really have to be open to whatever changes Mother Nature throws at me.  But, in the end I have the final say.

I hope these paintings take you to places you have been or want to go. Relax and listen closely for the sounds of the waves in my oceanscapes. But; be careful, if you look close enough at my mountainscape a bear just might sneak up on you.

                                                                                          Always look and imagine,

                                                                              Monique Carasso Heubel

                                                                                      moniqueheubelart@gmail.com

                                                                                        www.lookandimagineart.com