Artist Reception – Dodie Logue

Come and meet artist Dodie Logue, a painter based in Delano, MN whose charcoal pieces are a striking tribute to the natural world. Dodie’s art will be on display at the Tettegouche Visitor Center during the month of May. Her work focuses on the simplicity of charcoal, and her drawings showcase the beauty of nature, particularly trees and their relationship with humans. Logue’s co-authored book, “TREES,” with her sister Mary Logue, features Dodie’s drawings and Mary’s poems. Learn more about her charcoal work below in her artist statement.

You can learn more about Dodie, as well as her oil and acrylic paintings on her website.

Artist Statement

My charcoal pieces came out of a period of frustration. I was painting landscapes and was unsatisfied with much of my work; I decided to simplify and to use only paper and charcoal – black and white – for a year, which turned into a few years. This allowed me to simplify and focus primarily on drawing, value and composition.

 During this time I was working as a bird guide for a nature/travel company. I was spending a lot of time out in the field, especially at the dawn and dusk times of day; looking up at the trees and sky for birds. These drawings contain references to transitions: ground to sky, dawn to dusk, light to dark, calm to wild. The work has a sense of light, nature reflects light which fills the world, literally and metaphorically. Trees play a major role in these works, both as individuals and as a general representative of nature. I try to portray both the grandeur of a place, but also the fragility. Our relationship with the environment is so important ; I hope to pose a starting point for inquiry and investigation by the viewer.