Joe Landis: Creating brushstrokes of serenity

The sun is setting. Its slow movement is hardly noticeable. But the rays pull away from the horizon and send pastel hues through the sky. The water below glitters with reflections. While this might be the view on the shores of Lake Mendota, I am also describing "Oneness," a stunning painting in the Rotunda Gallery Spring Exhibition.  

Artist Joe Landis is the creative mind behind the piece, and with co-exhibitor Audifax, the show feels aptly titled “Whispers of Worlds,” blending traditional realism and gauzy landscapes with visionary geometric elements.

Landis's innate talent for sketching and drawing became evident at an early age. 

“I feel like I've been an artist all my life,” Landis says. “I drew a lot growing up. At age five, I entered a drawing contest. I drew a flower with petals and blades of grass around its stem. My mom got a phone call that my drawing had been chosen and needed to come and collect my prize, which was a large sugar cookie.”  

Chasing the high of that sugar cookie—and with encouragement from teachers and friends, his formal training at the Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design and subsequent studies at the Denver Arts Students League honed his skills and nurtured his passion for the craft. Upon relocating to the East Coast after college, only a few miles from the ocean, Landis found inspiration in the coastal landscapes, capturing their essence in his plein air (“open air” – working directly in nature!) paintings.

When describing his inspiration, it is no surprise that elements of the natural world top the list, “especially sunrises and sunsets.” Landis’s life also changed when he dived deep into the world of metaphysics and lucid dreaming, experiencing new sensations and ideas that undoubtedly contribute to the spirit-mind themes seen in his work. In line with those two categories of inspiration, Landis also calls out painter/teacher Richard Schmid and visionary artist Alex Gray as impactful role models to his artistic practice, calling them “giants of their genres.”   

However, even an artist as inspired as Landis runs into obstacles with his work. Blending the landscape and geometry, making sure neither element is dominating the other but is in perfect balance, can be a challenging process. Many, many thin layers of paint might seem like a test of patience, but it is the magic key to the visual harmony depicted in the artwork. 

The occasional trials of the canvas are not holding Landis back though. When asked where his artistic journey is headed next, he replied, “To the moon!” You can feel his excitement and optimism as he describes his plans: more figure work and geometry, continuing to work at large scales and sharing his work in more public spaces, such as wellness and healing centers. 

During the hustle and bustle of everyday life, Landis's art serves as a beacon of tranquility and introspection, inviting viewers to immerse themselves in the beauty of nature and the mysteries of the cosmos. With each brushstroke, Landis creates an experience that he hopes inspires viewers of his work to feel the same positive emotions and inner peace that come from feeling connected to the community, the natural world and the universe.  

Visit the Rotunda Gallery and listen closely to the "Whispers of Worlds," beckoning you to explore, dream and create. This exhibition runs through Sunday, June 16 and is free and open to the public any time Overture Center is open. Landis’s artwork is also for sale, making an incredible addition to any home, office or wellness center. To learn more about Joe Landis, check out his website or say hello to him at his booth at the Dane County Farmers Market.  

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