Spring Grass II, ©John O’Grady, 2014
Oil on Panel, 8″x 8″
SOLD
The seasons’ ebb and flow is something we are all imperceptibly receptive to.
The air warming, the brightening days and the sun shining seem to influence my work and palette choice.
Once I completed this painting, I gave it a name to express its feel and then thought the title sounded familiar.
I looked back on my previous work and found a painting with the same title and theme completed at this time last year. It had the same strong directional movement as in this piece, with clouds skittering across the spring sky though with this piece, suitably called Spring Grass II, I don’t have a building that provides an obvious focal point.
In today’s painting, the changing light falls upon the land and illuminates the grass in a highly saturated yellow to create drama while the surrounding colours add touches of subtleties.
Maybe this reflects a seasonal continuity with a subtle balance between figuration and abstraction.
I’d love to hear what do you think.
There’s something quite ecstatic about this, John. A rush of energy and movement, at least to my eye. And that bright yellow-green is the color I associate with young buds and new leaves. It feels warm, bright and full of possibility.
Hello Josephine, I think your eye serves you very well, that rush of energy that you refer to is really what the painting is about-the interconnectedness, hope that doesn’t sound too New Agey!
Hello John. I love the pattern of light and the contrast with the dark areas that the vibrant green/yellow gives. The beautiful distant horizon blue seems to carry a sense of looking forward to summer! I have been much inspired seeing your work online over the last couple days and especially enjoyed the haunting quality that your paintings of Ireland convey. Thank you for sharing them! Susie
Hello Susie,
You are very welcome here and thank you for your thoughtful comment. The blue of the distant hills looking forward to summer is poetic. I like it, thank you.
The sap is definitely rising in this joyous painting John – it is so full of life and energy. You have managed to capture that feeling of direction and purpose through intense colour and brushwork. We both said ‘wow’!
Spring has sprung Chris, I found it interesting looking back on last years piece, how the colour and brushwork were also to the fore. Glad you got a ‘Wow’ from it!
This must be your fav time of year, you really created something beautiful 🙂
Thanks very much Rory