Autumn Landscape (La Conner, WA)

Gilkey, born in 1925 in Bellingham, had historic roots in the Skagit Valley.  His parents were born there, and the beauty of the land, in color and nature, is reflected in his paintings. Most of his work was done out-of-doors, particularly before 1975, when he bought and remodeled a studio house in the Skagit Flats.  He developed a distinctive style in keeping with his intellectual curiosity.  This painting is very characteristic of the brushwork he used in his Skagit Valley scenes.  His later works turned toward abstractions, using black and white to represent the ancient Chinese philosophy of yin and yang.