CECILIA KIRBY BINKLEY

Photo by Astrid DeAngelis, October 2014 / Used with permission

Cecilia Kirby Binkley’s plein air paintings are intuitive and exhilarating translations of nature and the landscapes of New Mexico and southern Colorado.  She is compelled to paint by the desire to capture the expression, movement and color of the landscape.  Binkley uses a small canvas to quickly encapsulate a natural scene, and then, if she finds the plein air piece sufficiently compelling, she may choose to revisit the scene in a larger studio painting.  The smaller works become the inspirational foundation for her large canvases:  However, the larger pieces are also largely created from her memories, not just of the scene, but also of the full experience of creating the plein air painting.  Cecilia’s large works are rich in texture, formed by the application of heavy oil paint with a palette knife.  If her paintings elicit joy and thoughtful response, Binkley knows that her work has been successful.