On the Banks of the Ouvèze River III, ©John O’Grady
23.5″ x 31.5″ x 1.5″ acrylic on canvas, ready to hang
SOLD
I’d like to invite you to take a walk with me along the banks of the Ouvèze river in spring.
The trees were bursting forth with new life in wonderful vibrant greens.
It had rained the previous days and the river was swollen and full, but on this beautiful evening, it was limpid and oh so quiet.
The setting sun’s light was filtering through the foliage in dapples and sunbursts. The trees stood in blue violet shadows.
In the dark recesses of the river’s bend, golden beams of sunlight stood out against the darkness.
The reflection of undergrowth and trees in the water mingled with the filtered light.
The undulating water created wonderful fractured abstract shapes and then, when the water stilled, it reformed a world mirrored.
There are parts of the river that are magical, overgrown and sheltered.
The greens in the water are deep and rich. They seem to take us into a void.
This was the sight that drew me to make the painting.
I’d love to hear what your feelings are about this painting.
Oh, John, I am enchanted by this beautiful painting! By the mixture of dark and light, depths and surface reflections, by the repetitions of blue-violet misty shadows and golden light beams/reflections on the water (especially the yellow-gold marks on the left below the tree line–I am drawn to those), by the inky blue-green depths of the river or perhaps they are wavy reflections of the bordering trees–we are not sure which, as the boundary between water and vegetation and reflection is calmly blurred. Congratulations! It is truly beautiful.
Hello Rachel,
Thank you for your thoughtful comment. It was lovely to read your responses to colour and markmaking within the painting. All of the things you mention really resonated with me and yes the ‘yellow gold marks’ were a part of the painting I was particularly happy with too.
This is so very beautiful John. I find it envelopes and absorbs me so that I feel as though I am there by the river with the sunlight dappling through the trees, almost floating on the water myself. You have captured a glorious moment in time. The colours are perfect and the way you have created the light effects magnificent. It takes me to another plane when looking deeply into it with its secret, shady undergrowth and reflections. Many congratulations and it deserves to be widely shared.