Honoring the Artist: Gordon Matheson

by Marion Wolberg Weiss

Gordon Matheson, surely knows his territory, especially local scenes familiar to year-round residents like Cooke's Lane, Louse Point and the dunes at Sag Pond (the subject of this current cover). His penchant for these settings goes back when he visited the East End from New York. Matheson is constantly looking for new areas to paint, particularly land preserved by Peconic Land Trust. This commitment led to his active involvement in a group known as the Plein Air Peconic.

Q: Last week's cover artist, Casey Chalem Anderson, is also a member of Plein Air Peconic.

A: Yes. She's appearing on two covers in a row: She's the figure in the dunes I painted this week.

Q: What do you like about these views?

A: They're constantly changing. One day a landscape can look gorgeous; another day, plain.

Q: What distinguishes your plein air work?

A: Most people paint small pieces; I do huge paintings, like Wainscott Pond. I enjoy "falling into the place," when the painting and place are the same. It's like I can walk into the scene.

Q: Of the disadvantages to painting outdoors, what's the biggest problem besides weather?

A: When it gets windy. I used to lash the painting to the back door of the car when it got bad, but now I use tent pegs. I put the stakes in the ground and lash the painting down. After three or four hours of wind, however, it gets difficult.

Q: You should patent that technique. Any other disadvantages? How about when people come up to you when you're painting?

A: I don't mind if they're interested. It gives me a chance to talk about the Land Trust.

Q: What is it about preserving the land that has stayed with you? Where did you grow up?

A: North Carolina. I lived in Pennsylvania, studied textiles at North Carolina State and served in the army in the desert in New Mexico.

Q: Now that's an interesting vista.

A: (laughing) I was in Air Defense and blew things up. I didn't pay much attention to the landscape.

Q: In New York you were in textile design. How was that similar to landscape painting?

A: Both deal with color, composition. In both arts you must pick out the important things to put in your design. I don't like busy landscape. Painting is about choices.

Q: It that the hardest thing about painting landscape, making choices?

A: No, I don't find that hard. It's a natural process. But when I do find something hard, I let a work sit for a month and then go back to it.

Q: I bet it's hard for you to see how the land has changed here.

A: Yes. The biggest change is where there are houses now there used to be fields. If it weren't for the Peconic Land Trust, we would look like the Atlantic Coast of Florida.

Gordon Matheson's work can be seen at at Silas Marder, Bridgehampton, May 15. For information on his work and shows: www.gordonmathesonstudio.com

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