Show Preview | The Art Spirit Gallery: Kyle Paliotto

Kyle Paliotto, Winter’s Grip, oil, 20 x 24.

Coeur d’Alene, ID
July 12-August 3, 2013

This story was featured in the July 2013 issue of Southwest Art magazine. Order the Southwest Art July 2013 print issue, or get the Southwest Art July 2013 digital download now…Or better yet, just subscribe to Southwest Art and never miss a story!

When the glaciers of the last great ice age melted around northern Idaho, they left behind an abundance of breathtaking scenery—from pristine lakes to rushing rivers and from majestic mountains to fertile valleys. The tranquil beauty of the region is what drew artist Kyle Paliotto here eight years ago—and it’s also what compelled him to “get  serious about art.” Paliotto displays the beauty of his surroundings in at least 20 new paintings at The Art Spirit Gallery this month. The show opens with a reception from 5 to 8 p.m. on Friday, July 12, and runs through August 3.

Kyle Paliotto, Frogs and Crickets, oil, 12 x 9.

Although Paliotto paints a variety of subject matter, the pieces in this show are predominately landscapes. “Lately I’ve had this desire to slow down and be peaceful, which is what I have to do when I paint landscapes,” Paliotto says. “There’s a purity in landscape painting that slows me down and centers me. It’s something that I turn to when the world feels upside down, and it somehow makes everything make sense again.”

The artist has always enjoyed painting outdoors, but he doesn’t consider himself a plein-air painter. Rather than trying to complete a painting on the spot, Paliotto prefers to use his excursions into nature as an opportunity to “collect data and be recharged.” Once he’s satisfied that he has captured the light, spirit, and mood of a scene, he packs up and heads home. Back in the studio and feeling more “in tune,” he uses the small plein-air piece—as well as photographs and drawings—as reference material for a completely new and larger painting.

When creating works for this show, Paliotto says his goal was not simply to paint an accurate portrayal of a scene, but also to convey the light and intensity of mood that he experienced when he was there. “One of the reasons I paint landscapes is my relationship with God,” Paliotto explains. “I’m inspired by what He made, and when I’m immersed in nature it’s so overwhelming. [Painting the landscape] is my feeble attempt to show the magnificence, beauty, and light of His creation that I see.” —Lindsay Mitchell

contact information
208.765.6006
www.theartspiritgallery.com

Featured in the July 2013 issue of Southwest Art magazine–click below to purchase:
Southwest Art July 2013 digital download
Southwest Art July 2013 print issue
Or subscribe to Southwest Art and never miss a story!