Tropical Fantasy
Oil
on panel, 5 x 7, December 2014.
I had an experimental plein air session in the cold while it was snowing today, so I post this unrelated picture to help me warm up. I remember painting this in one
quick session on Christmas Eve while watching Miracle on 34th Street.
I really wanted to stick it to the winter! A lot of people think the winter is the most
wonderful season, and that is fine for them; there is nothing wrong with that, it
is beautiful even in my opinion, but winter only ever brought torment for me
and mine. Here in NJ, the powers that be
have this delusion that man has conquered nature, so when the roads are
dangerous, they don’t care, and all our obligations still remain without
mercy. It has been said that fire is the
devil’s only friend – but having lived in NJ all my life, I say it seems like he
is rather fond of ice.
I now have an unhealthily strong
desire to be in a warmer climate and dream of the day I may relocate south. Years of
studying Frederic Church’s works entitles me to make a tropical picture every
now and then at least. I tried to cut
loose in the brushwork in the flora, and I think I have succeeded. Getting realistic, or at least satisfactory leaf-work has a lot to do
with restraint and knowing when to stop.
It’s really a calligraphic art in itself.
Doesn’t it just make you feel
warm?
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