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As Far as the Eye Can See ©John O’Grady, 2014
Oil on deep edged panel, 23″ x 23″ x 1.5″
SOLD
I’m currently painting on larger formats and this piece is one I have been working on and off over the last few weeks.
As you know, I love a big sky and with this larger size, I took on the challenge of capturing an open vista viewed from a high viewpoint to give it distance. The drifting clouds provide a delicate and colourful play of light on the landscape bathed in the evening shadows.
The evening sun gives a burnt orange glow to the bog grasses that completes the overall feeling of warmth running through this work.
My studio is on the fourth floor with views over rooftops and hills in the background. The frequent mistral wind offers a perpetually moving sky so even though this painting is of Ireland, I wonder how much this experience feeds into my present work.
How do you respond to this painting?
John!!! THAT is spectacular!!! Love it…all kinds of contrasts and a blast of colour!!! It would look absolutely stunning on anyone’s wall…especially ours!!! LOL!!!
Ah! thanks a lot Terry, it is looking for a good home 😉 Glad you like it
As for each of your paintings, I wish I could be on the spot to capture in sight what you do so well in your paintings.
(Hope my English is not too bad to translate my feelings…)
Already awainting the next one !
Bravo !
Your English is just fine Dominique. It means a lot to me that they have that impact on you. Merci bien, j’apprecie beaucoup
John, I am amazed, once again, by the impact you create and the atmosphere you can convey with a relatively restrained palette. What a gorgeous vista. There are so many beautiful and effective elements, but what really knocks me out are those soft diagonal brushstrokes falling from sky to earth. Those, and the hint of a stream trailing off into the illuminated distance. i wish I could see this piece in person (and wish I could see the actual landscapes that inspire you)!
Hello Josephine, I think where I work (up with the gods) is feeding into what skies I make. The feel or atmosphere is Irish, filtered through memory/imagination, that surfaces somehow when I paint. I am mining that vein, almost involuntarily at present. As always thank you for your observations and kind words
That involuntary “tapping in” is a sublime experience, and it shows. Your work is uplifting and inspiring. Thank you for sharing it.
Much appreciated Josephine
Well John – this is stunning. We love it! It is bold yet delicate and subtle; the colours interplay with the light beautifully. Like JR I was struck by the soft diagonal slivers of mist that drift down towards the valley. It is a wonderful, powerful sky with uplifting distant views
I find the distant views you refer to of great interest. How far can we see, what remains real or do we create things in our mind eye, hence the title. Thank you for your thoughtful comment Chris
It is a good title for this painting. I think what we can see depends a lot on light, time of day and the weather conditions but I think what we can ‘see’ or feel is connected with memory. I have recently learned that Aristotle believed ‘the soul never thinks without a mental picture’ and that memories are made through the combination of emotions and imagination. I suppose this is what happens when we look at painting that we feel a connection with.
That’s really interesting Chris, particularly “memories are made through the combination of emotions and imagination. I suppose this is what happens when we look at painting that we feel a connection with”. Lot’s of food for thought there, thanks.
A lovely painting John. It conveys to me a feeling of serenity and majesty perhaps suggested by the colours you have chosen as well as the high view point. Very contemplative. I’m sure the online image doesn’t do it justice either!
Hello Susie, It is one of the problems of showing online, don’t you think, taking a decent image that does the painting justice. Thank you very much for your comment on my work, it is much appreciated