Eileen Dorsey (b.1982)
Impressions of Soft Light, 2017, 2020
Materials and Dimensions: Oil reduction on canvas, 41" x 67"
Location at Summa Health: Juve Family Behavioral Health Pavilion, Northeast Hallway, outside Lactation Room
About the Art
Eileen Dorsey’s Impressions of Soft Light immerses the viewer in a forested landscape where shifting light and expressive color create a scene that feels both serene and evocative. The twisting tree trunks, rendered in both naturalistic hues such as mossy greens and in unexpected pinks and purples, suggest a fleeting moment as daylight fades. This interplay of color and form introduces an element of quiet mystery, inviting the viewer to linger in the landscape and experience its subtle transformations.
Dorsey’s technique enhances this sense of movement and vitality. Rather than using brushes, she employs a palette knife and smaller tools to manipulate thick layers of oil paint, creating a richly textured surface that brings the forest to life. The energy of her mark-making, combined with the soft diffusion of light, balances the composition between realism and abstraction, drawing the viewer into an environment that is at once grounded and otherworldly.
Her approach recalls the work of early 20th-century Expressionist painters associated with Der Blaue Reiter (The Blue Rider), such as Ernst Ludwig Kirchner and August Macke, who used bold color and dynamic brushwork to reimagine landscapes with heightened emotional resonance. Like these artists, Dorsey explores color relationships in a way that moves beyond mere representation, offering a deeply personal and evocative interpretation of the natural world.
Dorsey’s use of oil reduction, a process in which she first paints on canvas and then transfers the composition onto a panel washed in acrylic, further contributes to the unique qualities of the work. This technique softens certain details while imbuing the composition with a fresh, spontaneous energy. She then continues refining the reversed image, layering color and form until it reaches a level of animation and depth that fully captures her vision.
Through Impressions of Soft Light, Dorsey invites us to engage with nature not just as observers but as participants in a world that is constantly shifting, where light, shadow, and form work together to create an ever-changing landscape of emotion and experience.
Yellow Background 4, 2017, 2020
Materials and Dimensions: Oil reduction on panel, 32” x 48”
Location at Summa Health: Juve Family Behavioral Health Pavilion, Ground Floor, outside SG 103
About the Art
Eileen Dorsey’s Yellow Background 4 captures the vibrant energy of an autumnal landscape, rendered in a bold palette that transforms the familiar into something both dreamlike and deeply evocative. Inspired by the expressive color choices and dynamic mark-making of artists like Egon Schiele and Alice Neel, Dorsey’s work moves beyond mere representation. Her trees pulse with life, their calligraphic trunks stretching and bending, while the leaves vibrate in fields of color, unburdened by heavy shading or strict realism. Rather than depicting a specific place, the painting instead conveys an impression or essence of fall in Northeast Ohio.
Dorsey often finds inspiration in her walks through the Cleveland Metroparks, where she collects what she calls 'resource photos,' or images that capture fleeting moments of light, form, and atmosphere. From these, she develops her compositions, yet she moves far beyond the photographic source. Her focus is not just on what she sees, but on how the scene makes her feel. She asks herself: How can the movement of trees be captured in a way that reflects their natural rhythm? How can a striking combination of primary and secondary colors be balanced to evoke a sense of both familiarity and fantasy?
The luminous yellow that dominates the background sets the tone for the entire painting, with its warmth and intensity immediately recalling the golden light of an October afternoon. Through her signature oil reduction technique, Dorsey layers and manipulates the paint with a palette knife, creating a surface rich with energy and texture. The result is a landscape that is as much about emotion as it is about place, offering an invitation to step into a world where nature is distilled into its most essential and expressive forms.
About the Artist
photo credit: Chad Cochran
Eileen Dorsey is a Cleveland-based artist whose work has made a significant impact on the local and regional art scene. Recognized for her vibrant and immersive landscapes, she has been honored as "Best Artist" by Scene Magazine in both 2018 and 2020, and by Cleveland Magazine in 2020. In a unique tribute to her contributions to the arts, the Mayor of Westlake declared July 31, 2022, as Eileen Dorsey Day.
Dorsey earned her B.F.A. from Kent State University, where she studied under adjunct professor Chuck Basham, an influence she credits as instrumental in shaping her artistic vision. Their connection came full circle in 2020 when the two were featured together in a joint exhibition at the Massillon Museum, an uncommon and meaningful recognition of the relationship between mentor and student.
Where You Can Find More of Her Work
While best known for her landscapes, Dorsey’s portfolio also includes figurative and abstract works, as well as large-scale public commissions. Her murals can be found throughout the Cleveland area, including at Flannery’s Pub and the Old Brooklyn Blooms Mural Project (created in collaboration with Garrett Weider). She has also engaged in live painting performances, such as her interactive piece at the Great Lakes Mall.
A notable commission during the pandemic saw Dorsey painting a breathtaking three-story mural of towering redwood trees for the Redwood Apartments and Living Corporate Headquarters in Independence, a testament to her ability to transform spaces through art.
Visitors can experience her work firsthand at her studio in 78th Street Studios, where she opens her gallery space during the monthly Third Fridays art walk. More of her work can also be explored through her official website.