Gretchen competed the 2nd painting in the “Eve Collection” during her stay at the “Dorland Arts Colony” in Temecula, Ca. Dorland is a “deep in the keep” hideaway tucked in the hills between the Santa Ana mountains to the west, and the Temescal mountains to the east. Ellen and Robert Dorland homesteaded the property in the 1930’s. After her husband died, Ellen negotiated a gift/sale of this nature preserve of 300 acres to the Nature Conservancy with the stipulation that an Arts Colony be allowed on the land.
“solitude is my mistress. It frees my spirit to roam, drift and settle on what moves me to create.”
“Forbidden Fruit” explores the moment when Eve takes that first bite from the Tree of Knowledge and faces the burdens of realtiy for the first time. She is vulnerable, only partially clothed, as she leaves the innocence of the garden where everything was provided for her. Duality emerges and arises the world.
