WILLIAMSTOWN, MASS. – John MacDonald’s Berkshire landscapes will be on view at The Harrison Gallery through March 10.
Seduced by the beauty of the Berkshires, and intrigued by the play of patterns and light, MacDonald transforms local scenes into colorful woodblock designs of dappled light and hue.
Combining his extensive training as a painter with modern tools of computer technology, MacDonald creates unique prints strongly influenced by his appreciation of Japanese woodcuts. Starting with a raw black and white gouache drawing, John adds layers of color and texture to the compositions, juxtaposing milky blues, gold bands and silvery greens.
“Mt Greylock,” “Jiminy Peak,” “Reynold’s Meadow” and “The Hopper” are some of the titles that clearly reflect the local inspiration that MacDonald draws upon.
As the artist states, “My choice of landscape as a subject matter is not an accident. I have always felt a deep connection to my immediate environment. The landscape takes us out of ourselves, reminding us of our interconnection to all of life.”
The Harrison Gallery, 39 Spring Street, is open Tuesday through Saturday, 10 am to 5:30 pm and Sunday from noon to 5 pm. For information, 413-458-1700 or visit www.theharrisongallery.com.