Artist Statement

Image of Montclair, NJ artist Denis Orloff in his studio

I have always been drawn to the light. The light is everything. We cannot live without it. Golden Hour, sunrises and sunsets, early morning light and the fading light of twilight. I believe that depiction of light is one of the most difficult and most gratifying things I can accomplish in a painting. Light brings with it the feeling of nostalgia and deep emotion. For me it can also bring feelings of unresolved longing. I love to capture images bathed in afternoon light as well as depicting the subtle details in the shadows, just waiting to be found by the viewer.

If there is a God, then for me God IS nature. The world around is us bathed in natural light and one must open their eyes to see the beauty that light brings to our world. On a gorgeous sunny day, even the most unattractive places can come alive and take on a dramatic and powerful feeling. You only have to take the time to look and see the world in its full glory.

The shadows get long and deep at the end of the day and the transition from daylight to twilight is magical. The air is atmospheric and objects fade into the distance as the light diminishes.

The light on the snow, on warm sunny barns and houses and the light filtering through the leaves of the trees in the woods;

I love the challenge and hope to capture these moments in every one of my paintings.