Phyllis Gorsen
Cloaked Path with Flowers

21 x 21 inches
Mixed media on canvas, framed
2026

My collage paintings explore emotion and mood as they emerge from the natural world. The environment, and the mysteries hidden within its elements, is at the heart of my work. Whether portraying human interaction in wild landscapes or the flourishing of indigenous life, I am drawn to the unseen private worlds that often go unnoticed. My inspiration is rooted in the mystical enchantment found in both real-life encounters with the wilderness and imagined intimate passages. I invite viewers to step into the spaces in between: where stories linger, where nature whispers, and where the secrets between the trees might be heard.

In my work, I take creative liberties with color and composition to evoke mood and enhance the sense of magic inherent ln the living landscape. I am less interested in literal representation than in expressing a feeling, one that may shift between wonder, solitude, curiosity, and reverence. These choices help guide the emotional tone of each piece, and are meant to induce both a familiar and otherworldly experience.

The creation of each piece in a meticulous process. I begin with a painted rendering, sometimes fabricated, sometimes based on photographs, and build from there. I layer various materials: paint, charcoal, painted paper and canvas, and handmade papers gathered from around the world. These mixed mediums, applied in multiple layers, create a multi-dimensional surface imbued with mystery and surprise, encouraging the viewer to linger, look closer, and be drawn into these magical realms.