Vander McClain

“My paintings are distillations of natural objects and found moments in remote environments. Documented on-site, I relay an objective relationship to my subject, so the engagement remains pure. I present them as they are, following their shapes, lines, ridges, and contours exactly as they are formed and found. Over the course of my life as an artist, I learned everything I know about color, composition, contrast, and light by studying and recording nature.”

“My current series, Field Notes, is a compilation of pictorial documentation from 23 locations in the American West created over the period of ten years. My paintings highlight and catalog the various specimens found in their diverse ecosystems and terrains. The images, simplistic and nonobjective, catalog and record my experience in and relationship to nature. The works are presented in grids according to geography, designed to create a broader survey of the landscape’s geologic and ecologic diversity. This includes evidence of myself, the artist. My hat, vest, and jacket become part of the objects in the series to serve as existential side notes alongside the main source material.”

Vander McClain received an MFA in painting from Parsons School of Design in New York, studying under Glenn Goldberg. He also studied painting in Umbria, Italy. He received his BFA from Oklahoma State University studying with Marty Averett. McClain was awarded an apprenticeship under master printmaker Bill Goldston at Universal Limited Art Editions (ULAE) in New York, an experience that was instrumental in his development as an artist. While at ULAE, in direct communication with the artists, he worked on lithography editions for Robert Rauschenberg, Jasper Johns, Julian Lethbridge, and Terry Winters. Additionally, McClain was studio assistant for Jane Hammond, Elizabeth Murray, Carrol Dunam, and Laurie Simmons. McClain’s work has been exhibited in galleries in New York. He currently lives and works in Seattle, Washington.

Click here for Vander McClain’s viewing room.

AMcE Exhibitions

Locally Sourced (2023)
Stasis (2023)
Seattle Art Fair (2023)
Embodiment May 2024

Vander McClain Stasis AMcE Creative Arts

Juniper
March 29, 2022
Lava Beds Wilderness, Oregon
Gouache, ink, and graphite on paper
24 ¾” x 21 ½” framed sold

Vander McClain Stasis AMcE Creative Arts

Aspen Leaf
December 11, 2021
Crucas Basin Wilderness, Oregon
Gouache, ink, and graphite on paper
21 ¾” x 18 ¼”

Vander McClain AMcE Creative Arts

Night Sky
March 30, 2022
Coffee Pot Basin, Oregon
Gouache, ink, and graphite on paper
24 ¾” x 21 ½” framed sold

Vander McClain AMcE Creative Arts

Pine
December 14, 2021
Hells Canyon Wilderness, Oregon
Gouache, ink, and graphite on paper
24 ¾” x 21 ½” framed sold

Vander McClain "Spider Woman" AMcE Creative Arts

Spider Woman
September 27, 2022
Taos, New Mexico
Gouache, ink, and graphite on paper
21 ¾” x 18 ¼”

Vander McClain "Cattle Tag" AMcE Creative Arts

Cattle Tag
December 14, 2021
Wallowa County, Oregon
Gouache, ink, and graphite on paper
21 ¾” x 18 ¼” sold

Vander McClain "Night Sky, September 23, 2022" AMcE Creative Arts

Night Sky
September 23, 2022
San Antonio Mountain, New Mexico
Gouache, ink, and graphite on paper
21 ¾” x 18 ¼” sold

Vander McClain "Elk Shed" AMcE Creative Arts

Elk Shed
September 16, 2022
Taos Mountain, New Mexico
Gouache, ink, and graphite on paper
21 ¾” x 18 ¼”  

Vander McClain "Mustang & Basalt" AMcE Creative Arts

Mustang & Basalt
April 01, 2022
Whiskey Hills, Oregon
Gouache, ink, and graphite on paper
21 ¾” x 18 ¼” sold

Vander McClain AMcE Creative Arts

Ponderosa Stem
March 22, 2022
Lava Beds Wilderness, Oregon
Gouache, ink, and graphite on paper
24 ¾” x 21 ½” framed sold

Vander McClain AMcE Creative Arts

Stock Tanks
March 30, 2022
Coffee Pot Basin, Oregon
Gouache, ink, and graphite on paper
24 ¾” x 21 ½” framed 

Vander McClain AMcE Creative Arts

Basalt
March 30, 2022

Lava Beds Wilderness, Oregon
Gouache, ink, and graphite on paper
24 ¾” x 21 ½” framed 

Vander McClain AMcE Creative Arts

Basalt
December 10, 2021
Hells Canyon Wilderness, Oregon
Gouache, ink, and graphite on paper
24 ¾” x 21 ½” framed sold

Vander McClain AMcE Creative Arts

Petroleum Can
December 14, 2021
Wallowa County, Oregon
Gouache, ink, and graphite on paper
24 ¾” x 21 ½” framed sold 

Vander McClain AMcE Creative Arts

Rope
December 11, 2021

Hells Canyon Wilderness, Oregon
Gouache, ink, and graphite on paper
24 ¾” x 21 ½” framed 

Vander McClain AMcE Creative Arts

Ponderosa
December 10, 2021

Hells Canyon Wilderness, Oregon
Gouache, ink, and graphite on paper
24 ¾” x 21 ½” framed sold

Vander McClain AMcE Creative Arts

Haskett Point
December 30, 2021
Catlow Valley, Oregon
Gouache, ink, and graphite on paper
24 ¾” x 21 ½” framed sold

Vander McClain AMcE Creative Arts

Deer Sign
December 11, 2021
Hells Canyon Wilderness, Oregon
Gouache, ink, and graphite on paper
24 ¾” x 21 ½” framed 

Vander McClain AMcE Creative Arts

Lithic Drill
September 8, 2022
Ah-Shi-Sle-Pah Wilderness, New Mexico
Gouache, ink, and graphite on paper
24 ¾” x 21 ½” framed 

Vander McClain AMcE Creative Arts

Night Sky Long Exposure
March 29, 2022
Coffee Pot Basin, Oregon
Gouache, ink, and graphite on paper
24 ¾” x 21 ½” framed 

Ponderosa December 15, 2021
 Hells Canyon Wilderness, Oregon
 Gouache, ink and graphite on paper
 21 ¾” x 18 ¼”

Ponderosa
December 15, 2021
Hells Canyon Wilderness, Oregon
Gouache, ink and graphite on paper
24 ¾” x 21 ½” framed sold

Ancient Limber pine December 8, 2021
 Wallowa-Whitman National Forest, Oregon
 Gouache, ink and graphite on paper
 11 ¾” x 9”

Ancient Limber Pine
December 8, 2021
Wallowa-Whitman National Forest, Oregon
Gouache, ink and graphite on paper
11 ¾” x 9” sold

Basalt & Lichen July 5, 2019 Lolo National Forest, Montana Gouache, ink and graphite on paper
 11 ¾” x 9”

Basalt & Lichen
July 5, 2019
Lolo National Forest, Montana
Gouache, ink and graphite on paper
11 ¾” x 9”

Vander McClain AMcE Creative Arts

Pine
December 14, 2021
Hells Canyon Wilderness, Oregon
Gouache, ink and graphite on paper
24 ¾” x 21 ½” framed sold

Basalt 2 April 24, 2019 Metolius River, Oregon Gouache, ink and graphite on paper 11 ¾” x 9”

Basalt 2
April 24, 2019
Metolius River, Oregon
Gouache, ink and graphite on paper
11 ¾” x 9”

Basalt October 7, 2021 Diamond Craters, Oregon Gouache, ink and graphite on paper 11 ¾” x 9”

Basalt
October 7, 2021
Diamond Craters, Oregon
Gouache, ink and graphite on paper
11 ¾” x 9”

Vander McClain AMcE Creative Arts

Pine Cone
April 25, 2019
Metolius River, Oregon
Gouache, ink and graphite on paper
11 ¾” x 9” sold

Shells, Feather & Fly September 2, 2018
 Elk Camp, Colorado Gouache, ink and graphite on paper
 11 ¾” x 9”

Shells, Feather & Fly
September 2, 2018
Elk Camp, Colorado
Gouache, ink and graphite on paper
11 ¾” x 9” sold

Stem & Cone December 8, 2021 Wallowa-Whitman National Forest, Oregon
 Gouache, ink and graphite on paper 11 ¾” x 9”

Stem & Cone
December 8, 2021
Wallowa-Whitman National Forest, Oregon
Gouache, ink and graphite on paper
11 ¾” x 9”

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