Cliffside

Inspired by the immense scale of the landscapes of western america - this painting presents an optimistic scene to the viewer. My goal with this painting is to capture the feeling of curiosity. One of my favorite subjects is the feeling an adventure yet to be completed. The tension, excitement, and curiosity of the unknown were key elements I hoped to capture within this painting. The composition creates an arrow with leading lines that draw the viewers eyes from right to left, off around the bend in the river and into the distance. Giant cliffs block the viewer from seeing what awaits them on their adventure, serving both as a focal point and as a point of tension. Finally, a lone tamarack tree stands close to the riverbank, stopping the viewer's eye for a brief moment. This tree serves two purposes - first, it enhances the color pallet of the painting by adding some much needed variation. Second, it serves as a small curiosity that I hope the viewer's eye lingers on. Often when I am outdoors I see little things that catch my eye and spark my curiosity. In this case, the tree carries a narrative of its own and harnesses a certain mysteriousness. Why, among a forest of pines as far as the eye can see, is there a single tamarack tree? What is its story?