The Valley of Lights II ©John O’Grady, 2014
Oil on Panel, 8″x 10″
Not for Sale (NFS)
This painting emerged as a piece that shows the incredible energy of light bouncing around the sky onto the land.
Common themes are coming up in my current work: a special light, open expanses of land, changing weather conditions, sheets of rain as well as light falling onto the land at the same time. It might be that these paintings are about the duality between permanence and the fleeting qualities of nature.
To paint the light quality and the atmosphere, I use different colours that play with the dynamic of light and dark. The colours echo each other in the top and bottom part of the painting to lose the demarcation created by an horizon line and make the painting more harmonious.
What do you think?
This reminds me a little of “As Far as the Eye Can See” in theme and feeling. As in many of your landscapes, there seems to be a conversation here between the ever-shifting sky and the solid land (which also changes over time, but much more slowly). Our perception of the land — and even how far we can see — depends entirely on time of day, light, moisture, all functions of what’s happening in the sky. I love that sensation of the atmosphere falling to land. The interplay of light and shadow is beautiful.
Hello Josephine,
Yes I think it does have a similar feel to “As Far as the Eye Can See” in the portrayal of atmospheric conditions through aerial perspective. I like your comment ,of a “conversation” taking place between sky and land, that gives me food for thought. I write my thoughts on a blog post below the painting but often things only coalesce after comments and conversations take place here. Thank you
I love the way you created a sort of mist delving into the valley,:)
Hello Rory, glad you like it. The painting came out that way, it’s like trying to bring the atmosphere of the sky into the earth, so it breaks the horizon division. Thank you for your comment
Aloha John,
I like it, very luminously; value soft edged contrasts are very pleasing to my eye.
Michael
Thank you very much Michael.
The veiled softness is very delicate and expertly captured John – another beautiful creation. The glow reflecting off the water is perfect.
Thank you very much Chris, much appreciated