A Portfolio of Pared-Down Landscape Paintings by Drew Noel Marin
Present Moment, acrylic on textured canvas
Drew Noel Marin is a Michigan-based artist who works primarily in acrylic on canvas. In her current artistic practice, Drew creates soft, pared-down landscape paintings with an emphasis on cool colour palettes and sparing details that suggest scenes rather than filling in every detail.
Forest Haze, acrylic on textured canvas
I really like the way Drew emphasizes the atmosphere in her artworks. Some pieces feel strictly abstract at first glance, with pure-colour compositions reminiscent of [Mark Rothko]. Drew’s titles become a gateway into the work’s intended reading, though it’s certainly possible to enjoy the artist’s paintings either way -- as figurative landscapes and as abstract explorations of texture and colour.
As we saw in our previous feature of Drew’s work evoking emotions, the artist often includes stricter figuration in her works -- usually in the form of flowers, or trees spread neatly across a horizon line. These more clearly representative moments serve to create contrast and energy within the painting, allowing the viewer’s eye to move easily between figuration and abstraction.
