Stephen Bergstrom
In my paintings, I'm attracted to capturing a quality of romanticism. Whether I choose a scene in the city or a rustic European village, I start with key elements. These are a balance of light and shadow, architecture and nature. Traveling in Europe and North America, I capture scenes both by sketching and photographing what I see. Back at the studio I recall people, places, a lit garden or an old medieval village for instance. Usually, it's a combination of ideas: a walk through Sienna, the sun caressing a bougainvillea plant, or light streaming through a cafe window at the days end. At this point I'll look for sketches and photos that represent the ideas I have in mind.
I start with an under painting, which is a thin oil wash. I add and take away until I achieve the desired composition. Next, I apply thick layers of paint, a method known as Impasto. I strive to marble the color as I apply the paint using the Italian method. Also I enhance the areas of light with pastel colored strokes, and the dark areas with rich variations of Cyan and Magenta. The layers are applied wet on wet, the end result is an illusion of depth.
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"Villaggio Tranquillo"
"Portland Oregon"
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