Media & Materials

Mediums

Therese Stowell’s practice is rooted in a deep reverence for the tactile quality of raw materials. She primarily works with oil paints, natural wax, and raw earth pigments, sourcing materials that allow for rich layering and physical depth. Each layer is meticulously built up and partially scraped away to reveal hidden textures underneath.

Her use of cold wax medium allows the artwork to hold light in a unique, semi-matte finish that evokes ancient stone and weathered surfaces. This painstaking process results in abstract compositions that feel simultaneously ancient and thoroughly contemporary.

By combining traditional methods with modern expression, her work speaks to the timelessness of form.

Tactile Surfaces

The choice of substrate is critical to the final aesthetic. Therese works on heavy Belgian linen, archival cotton rag papers, and custom wood panels. These surfaces are selected for their durability and organic texture, which interact with the mediums.

Each panel is hand-primed in her studio using traditional gesso techniques, ensuring a superb base that elevates the structural integrity.

Oils

In her latest series, Therese blends walnut oils and cold beeswax with marble dust. This produces an exceptionally tactile grit, capturing the stark beauty and raw essence of the Pacific Northwest landscapes she loves.