Pond Pass 

Neil Welliver invites us into a contemplative space with his painting, Pond Pass. Welliver's approach to landscape painting moves away from the romanticism often associated with the genre. Instead, he offers an unidealized glimpse into the Maine wilderness. Welliver's choice to paint en plein air meant he was directly confronting the elements, a physical engagement that translates into the painting’s texture. You can almost feel the cold stillness of the winter air. The pond acts as a mirror, reflecting the forest. The reflection complicates our sense of space and depth. The stillness of the pond and the density of the forest evoke the quiet and solitude of the natural world. Welliver said he sought to capture "the thingness of things," resisting symbolic interpretations. Yet, in its stark beauty, Pond Pass also evokes a sense of vulnerability. Welliver’s painting practice was also a way for him to connect with the landscape around him. This is more than just a landscape; it’s an intimate reflection on nature, and an open invitation to consider our place within it.