Tallmadge Doyle

Artist statement, Ocean Sky

My art explores Pacific Northwest ecosystems, focusing on forms found in both the depths of the ocean and deep outer space. Through multiple layers of paint and printmaking techniques depicting organic form, I aim to present a unique view of the intricate interconnections within nature’s rhythms and offer the viewer an experience of contemplation and renewal.

By combining traditional mediums of printmaking with painting materials of India inks, oil, dry pigments and watercolor, I construct diaphanous multi-layered effects as one would see if peering through water or the deep gaseous atmosphere of outer space.  

My ongoing series, Ocean Sky, delves into the intricate systems of microscopic life forms revealed through deep sea underwater photography, while simultaneously drawing inspiration from the vast telescopic views of star formations. Although these realms seem vastly different in their scale, they display striking similarities in their visual forms. These intertwining realities spark boundless possibilities for my expression, as I imagine the convergence of the minute with the immense.

Images from technologies such as telescopes and microscopes serve as essential tools in my artistic exploration. These instruments collect fragmented pieces of perception, mere substitutes for understanding. For me, the reliance on such instruments underscores our inability to take in the full magnitude of the universe we inhabit. There are profound mysteries that persist.

I begin by researching images and information collected by advanced tools of technology and then highlight visible parallels. The result is a place where color is ethereal, where light is unpredictable and form vibrates, allowing access into the immensity of unexplored abundance and a glimpse into what is often unseen by the naked eye.

My work invites viewers to enjoy their relationship with the natural environment, not as separate observers of the beauty, but as participants in a shared and interdependent world. 

At present, my objective as an artist is to generate conversations, foster collaborations, and cultivate relationships among art, science, and innovative environmental concepts, with the aim of extending these initiatives into the larger community, beyond the walls of galleries.