Artist Liz Hoag finds inspiration in the simple act of walking in the woods near her Maine home. It isn’t just about what she sees—it is also about what she feels.

“When walking in the woods, the trees surround us. We cannot see the quiet, but we feel it,” says Hoag.

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Hoag, after taking photographs on walks around her neighborhood or one of the many trails around the state, goes to work in her studio. 

“This is where the magic happens. I normally start with a dark canvas, or negative space, and build up by adding light. For me, the result is both abstract and representational,” she says.

Hoag blends the ideas inspired by her nature experiences into her work, using mostly acrylic paint on canvas. 

“It seems I have always leaned toward realistic work, but I like abstract. It’s looser,” Hoag says. She describes the work as “misty” when she discusses the pulling of light color over dark. “It is the light and color that make a space quiet,” she says.

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Hoag especially focuses on trees, as she feels they are the part of the landscape that gives depth and frames the beauty of the outdoors. 

“They are an integral part of nature. We take them in without thinking about them,” Hoag says.

Nature is constantly inspiring her to paint. “It’s balance and shape,” Hoag says. “For each of us, there is a need to find beauty and balance in the everyday. Much of what I paint is considered ordinary. They are things usually passed by, but if a second is taken to stop and see, it’s impossible not to notice how truly dramatic they are. The balance of the light and dark always manages to create calm.”

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Although her work expresses her relationship to nature, Hoag ultimately hopes to evoke feelings in those who view her work. 

“I do not think of the ‘story’ or ‘narrative’ of my paintings,” says Hoag. “These paintings truly reflect the feel of the moment when I was in this beautiful place.”

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