On the Banks of the Ouvèze River
16″ x 12″ Oil on 5 mm Panel, requires framing
Original SOLD – Limited edition prints are available
This is the second painting of remembered visits along the Ouvèze river in Provence. It records my impressions of late spring last year when the river was in full flow and the trees in full verdant growth.
The painting could have been titled ‘painting the light’ as it is more an exploration of light flooding through the canopy of trees and playing upon the surface of the water rather than a description of a particular place.
While predominantly green, this piece is infused with spots of other colours that lift it. The light purples, blues and orange/reds are all there to capture the diffused light filtered through foliage and hitting the water in a series of radiant spots that feel magical and cinematic.
What is exciting about making paintings like these is the colour describes the feeling or atmosphere under the canopy of trees but it is also about how a colour placed next to another helps to break up the picture. It becomes about balancing abstract qualities as well as describing foliage, water, light.
Most of all, colour is light and light is a life force, an energy.
I’d love to hear what you think.
This painting is really beautiful. I love how you captured the light filtering through the trees.
Hello Anne Marie,
Thank you very much. Yes the quality of filtered light is magical isn’t it? I had great pleasure in making this piece and pushing the colours out as far as I could, hopefully that comes through in the piece.
Well done, it carries the imagination away to warmer days:)
Hello Rory,
and Thanks very much for your comment, the warmer days are always welcome:)
Stunning! I love how you have captured the light John. … magical! 🙂
Much appreciated, yes filtered light and backlit trees have a magical quality don’t they Gabriel? Thank you for your comment.
All my comments about your earlier Ouvèze painting apply here as well, John. The light is magical, as is that particular “unfocused” quality as the rays hit the eye (or the camera lens). But I’d say that this one is even more refined in the use of color and composition. I like that the reflected image in the water takes up just over half of the vertical plane, and that the tops of the trees are visible in the reflection. And the placement of the yellows and violets here conveys even more strongly the sense of warm light and cool shadow. Very mysterious and beautiful.
‘Hello Jo,
Yes I feel it’s a continuation and as you mentioned in your comment it is more refined piece I think. The high position of the upper river bank line reminded me a little of the ‘Clouds in the River Rhone’.
What I am excited about is using green, in what I think is if I may say so quite successfully with working in the yellows, violets you mentioned next to it. I feel more of these coming and pushing the boundary to see if light and colour emerge as the subject matter and description dissolves. Like closing one’s eyes and just seeing colour and light. Thank you for your thoughtful comment’.
Absolutely stunning!!! What a glorious piece. And how exquisitely rendered. So very well done!! I echo all of the above. I am sorry it has sold so quickly…not for YOU, of course, but for me!!! LOL!!!
Hello Terry,
Yes it went within the first few minutes 🙂 Sorry you missed out on it. I think it came out quite successfully in how the light is captured, it’s great to hear that it connected with you. I hope you are both keeping well
It’s breathtaking John! 🙂
Those beautiful fresh emerald greens with the dashes of oranges/purple-pinks and the strong sunlight coming through the tree canopies is stunningly beautiful. I feel I just want to be there at the water’s edge to drink in the beauty of this place! 🙂
Hello Eileen,
Thank you for your thoughtful comment on the painting. Yes it is a beautiful place, in fact I was there today for a walk, the leaves are just starting to turn a pale green as we move into Autumn. I am looking forward to doing some more pieces by the river. I hope your own work is going well Eileen.
kind regards
John