Dorothy Kerper Monnelly: Waterforms

"waterforms" is inspired by the continual action of water on the land, creating endless forms and patterns. Surf-rounded boulders tossed ashore by waves reflect the rhythmic action of the sea, while the endless time of this action is seen in the silky, polished surface of the rock shore. Ice and snow patterns record dramatic changes in temperature and the sweep of powerful winter winds. Wet kelp strewn on the sand, or patterns made by the falling tide reveal both beauty and mystery created by the sea along the shore. It is a magical gift to encounter these natural forms and patterns in the landscape and I try to capture the feeling of rhythmic action and harmony. Another favorite subject is ice patterns that form in fresh water streams. The best ice forms occur early in the coldest part of the winter, before snow covers the ground. (I quickly learned that to photograph ice patterns, the critical extra ingredient is warm clothes!) Ice patterns embody a fragile, fleeting beauty and can convey the miraculous quality of the natural world. My thought is well expressed by John Keats in "Ode to a Grecian Urn." "Beauty is truth, truth, Beauty, that is all Ye know on earth and all ye need to know." Fine Art Photography is the language of the inner eye - the inner self that responds without knowing. It is an intuitive dialog that speaks as an image. It is a search for truth ... for the song! Dorothy Kerper Monnelly Artist's Statement