Carlton Fletcher: Masterful Landscapes
March 28th - April 25th, 2020
MAsterful Landscapes is a look into Carlton Fletcher’s personal view of the world around him through picturesque landscapes that convey emotive atmospheres and narratives.
Artist Statement: I have been fortunate enough to have painted in a variety of states and countries, and yet it still comes as a surprise to me that a successful outing is not really dependent on a picturesque locale. It’s true that there are many beautiful things to paint in Montana and in France, but that also turns out to be true for shores of the Potomac, and the streets of my neighborhood in Washington. In the course of trying to find out how painting works I have sometimes concentrated on close observation; at other times I have tried my hand at a little invention. Although at any given moment I might have thought myself to be an exponent of one particular kind of painting, looking back I see that I have actually pursued quite a few kinds. What remains constant is that, what the painting wants to be, and the route it takes to get there, only comes to light while doing the work. Quite often I'm clueless, and it takes forever. Other times, it just seems to paint itself, and I’m only required to help the paint get from the palette to the canvas.
Bio: Carlton Fletcher received his degrees from the Rhode Island School of Design (BFA, 1972), and American University (MFA, 1982). Since 1977 he has had solo shows at Wolfe Street Gallery, Georgetown Art Gallery, Hull Gallery, the Washington Studio School, Jane Haslem Gallery, and Calloway Fine Art & Consulting. His work was featured in the 2018 Katzen Center exhibition on Robert D’Arista, his professor during his time at American University. Carlton's paintings are in the permanent collections of American University, Georgetown University, Stanford University, and the DC Commission on Arts and Humanities.