Mangrove In Paradise

Comment

Comment by Resident Curator on July 20, 2016 at 7:58pm

Curator’s Comments:

 

Mangrove in Paradise attracted my attention, oddly enough, because it was less than perfect.  Your other landscapes, by in large, show beautifully idealized scenes showcasing the splendor of a natural, tropical world.  This mangrove painting has an intriguing figurative quality, and does seem animated in its compacted space. (I’m unsure if the 4x5 dimensions referenced are in feet or inches- I imagine a tiny, intimate piece versus an almost foreboding presence on the larger scale.)  But either way, the broken color in the tree trunk creates dynamic energy and visual interest, while the foliage expertly intermingles green and orange hues.  I also appreciate the overall density of the painting, and the way the subject seems to be slightly floating between air and water.  Small bits of pure blue peek through the branches at the top of the composition, formally connecting the blue to the cool bottom section. As you suggest in your brief accompanying narrative, the tree appears to walk on a dozen nimble, anthropomorphized legs.  I’m also very drawn to the plein air piece entitled Beyond the Bend.  The impasto surface injects an agitated or expectant mood into the otherwise tranquil pathway.  The painting skillfully leads the viewer into the landscape to enjoy the lush vegetation all around.