Land Marks III, ©John O’Grady
10.1″ x 14″ x 0.75″, oil on canvas, ready to hang.
SOLD
When I came to write this post, it became clear the painting is about the interaction of elements that act upon each other, like the protagonists in a play.
The moon, the clouds and land are all in a supporting role for the mountain. If you look closely on the mountainside, you can see it has been scored and marked over thousands of years. The furrows run deep down its flank but still, it stands immutable, watching over the land as the ephemeral weather fronts sweep over it from season to season.
At the foot of the mountain, the warmth of the orange and brick bog grasses bring the land to life. It’s dusk and the moon rises slowly into the sky. The distant mountain looms above the land drifting in and out of mist, the clouds nestling on its summit morph its shape.
The highly textured foreground of darks and lights stand in stark contrast to the mountain which is described in tints of blues and reds, pushing it back into the landscape with aerial perspective.
I’d love to hear what you think.
There is a majesty about this painting John. The mass and scale of the mountain is emphasised by the deeply scored contours and ‘marks’ which you have skillfully suggested with wonderful colour and light and shade. The range of textures -on land , mountain and sky all have a natural and pleasing symmetry. Brilliant!
Hello Christine,
Thank you very much for your comment. I think the ‘majesty’ that you mention is really in the mountain hovering in the distance.
waterfall of fire
illuminates the landscape
cloud wraith visible
to the left hand side at the top of your painting it looks like there’s a figure in a bowl shape of clouds John, looks like there’s a lid to the bowl too, it’s just below the line of the moon, very powerful image, thanks so much for sharing, Julie
Hello Julie,
Thank you very much another wonderful haiku and comment on the painting.