I am naturally drawn to the times of day when light sweeps gently across the land at dawn, or when the fading light of the blue hour brings about a feeling of being between two worlds, between light and dark.
The Gathering
80 cm x 100 cm x 4 cm
Acrylic on canvas ready to hang
People are gathering around the mighty tree at sunset. The orange-pink light is diffused.
I wanted to make a large painting of this pine tree local to me.
Once it was painted, it looked impressive and majestic, but lonely and without scale.
So I started adding figures.
Over the weeks, the few figures grew to become a gathering.
Hence, the title of the painting that reminded me of a quote by Herman Hesse, the German author:
“Trees are sanctuaries. Whoever knows how to speak to them, whoever knows how to listen to them, can learn the truth. They do not preach learning and precepts, they preach, undeterred by particulars, the ancient law of life.”
Herman Hesse
Collection of fragments ‘Wandering: Notes and Sketches’
The Glowing Bog Heather
20.5 cm x 20.5 cm x 4.5 cm
Acrylic on canvas ready to hang
This small dawn painting begins with two bands of light cutting through the darkness to signal a new day is beginning.
On this quiet morning, the bog heather’s pink glow seems to resonate with the rays of light…
The View from the Top II
41 cm x 20.5 cm x 4.5 cm
The view from the top is hushed. The sun has not risen yet.
Looking across the bog land at dawn, a full moon peaks through a veil of clouds.
The rich chocolate colour contrasts with the orange glow of the bog grasses…
Although very different, these 3 paintings evoke a hazy time in between worlds, when nothing is defined nor definite.
I hope you enjoy looking at them.
Which one appeals to you more, please let me know?
Hello John, thank you for sharing your latest paintings which are always a pleasure. Which one appeals to me more is an interesting question and might depend on the day but I am drawn to and like The View from the Top II most. I think it is the warmth of the colours, the vast landscape spread out before us and that wonderful sky; there is a gentle calmness about it that I like. It would add an air of tranquility to any room. However, I did find myself quite fascinated by The Gathering and started looking in detail at the people at the base of the tree which towers above them with great majesty. Finally, I have always liked your heather and bog paintings and this one is no exception. I find them very evocative but in this one, for me, it those two strips of light in the violet sky that really make it special. Congratulations on all three which are magnificent.
Hello Chris, thank you for your thoughtful comment on the three paintings. I thought the two smaller paintings might be to your liking, as I know how much you are drawn to the bog and to heather. Reading your comment on the larger painting ‘The Gathering’ came as a pleasant surprise.