Peace on the Pond

Comment

Comment by Resident Curator on December 30, 2022 at 3:30pm

Curator’s Comments:

Peace on the Pond was a random selection on the site, and the landscape stood out for its graphic appeal. The contrast between the alternating bands of water, earth and clouds are reflected in a clean and clear value pattern.  The reddish brown and aqua stripes are set up in an opposing, and dynamic equilibrium. Nature becomes abstracted as the bare tree stretches out in both vertical directions, depicting branches and roots, but ultimately creating a less familiar mirrored entity. I appreciate the slight softening of edges, and the elimination of details in the bottom reflected half of the scene. While these variations create some atmospheric space, I enjoy the compositional choices for the small amounts of unpredictability they offer within the design.  I also find it interesting that most of your paintings on the site are more overtly figurative, and the tree in this work assumes that role.