Up Close:
Ann Lofquist’s
Dry December

Ann Lofquist uses an extreme panoramic format to create an expansive landscape experience.

Lofquist doesn't idealize rural places. Mundane agriculture buildings are not erased or avoided. Feeding troughs, buckets, and fences tell a story of human presence without needing to show people. Animals, however, wander onto the canvas.

Although featuring a large sycamore tree, that's not necessarily the focal point of Dry December. The format, scale, and attention to detail prompt you to explore every inch of the canvas.

At this scale, Lofquist’s small brushstrokes illustrate even small leaves and grass but do not erase the artist's touch.

Rocks on a dirt path are depicted with the same care as the oak tree above. Blue sky emerges from the clouds above a tree-lined hilltop. Multiple vignettes construct the larger tableau.

Ann Lofquist, who lived in Ventura County for a number of years, recently moved back to New England where she previously lived and taught art. In her words, “I may hate the cold, but I do love painting snow.” Although we are happy she will be painting her favorite landscapes, we will miss her. Her paintings of the west coast will be a rarity in the future.