Linda Fries

Deeply committed to our environment and Mother Earth, Ms. Fries' landscape/abstract paintings feature natural paints that she makes by hand from raw earth. By utilizing soil from around the globe, she fashions a surprisingly wide variety of hues and colors. Her artistic vision is part of WEAD (Women Environment Artist Directory), an organization that fosters women's involvement, preservation and artistic expressions regarding the environment.

Many Lands #9, 2003
8" x 6", earth pigment on paper

 

Ecology, art and the earth
"My techniques recall ancient ways. After selecting particular clays, the raw earth is cleaned of debris, ground by tone and sifted. Some earth is finely ground while other is left in its original rugged state. In any particular painting you might see earth colors from San Francisco, Marin, Arizona, New Mexico, Italy, France, Japan, Poland, Israel, etc. In these works of art the beautiful colors of many different places on earth combine: a world of harmony through art."

 

 

 

 

Many Lands #6, 2003
8" x 6", earth pigment on paper

 

On using natural materials
"These paintings are made entirely of natural materials collected from different lands. The colors are exactly as I have found them, untouched by any additives, toxins, mixing. While the manufacture of most modern art materials can and often does produce toxic or potentially harmful substances, the use of natural earth colors harkens back to an earlier, more basic way of making art. By using these simple earth pigments I avoid adding new and often unknown chemical dangers to our environment."

Land #6, 2000
11" x 8", earth pigment on paper

 

A passion for painting
    for wilderness
    for light and air
    mountains, trees and rocks
    the flow of water
    the wind
    movement and change
    color.

Abstraction serves well
    as a painter's language
    for renewing connection to the natural world

Abstraction provides a means
    of seeing beyond the outline of the visible world
    of exploring the mysteries of movement, energy and change
    of interpreting the complexities of light, color and form.

Abstraction suggests a visual music, reflecting a
    spontaneous, lively, emotional response to what
    remains of our once sublimely beautiful world.

Abstraction becomes a visual dialogue with
    the earth, our times, ourselves.

(Continues below)

 

---

Land #3, 2000
11" x 8", earth pigment on paper

 

longing for unity
longing for connection
birds wings winds dust
woods meadows streams
    the sea
endlessly flowing
    cycles
endlessly flowing

forms in nature
    observed
    felt
gratitude and celebration of the natural world
acts of honoring this world through art
painting from the source
    out in the wild

These wilderness abstractions are painted under open skies in wild places by the sea. In keeping with an effort to reduce environmental abuse, I use only non-toxic or low impact materials, inks, color and paper.

                            Linda Fries, 1994-95

Valley, 2000
10" x 8", earth pigment on paper

 

 

In Ms. Fries has exhibited in numerous ecologically oriented exhibits including, John F. Kennedy University, Marin Civic Center, and the de Young Museum Art School, all in California. In addition to exhibiting her art, Ms. Fries is active in teaching workshops on environmental issues and the creative art process.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

---

Earth Dance #5, 2002
8" x 10", earth pigment on paper

 

Exhibit Continues

---

Enter Part III