Tuesday 2 February 2016

The Forest Beyond

Oil on Board, 9 x 13 inches

I haven't painted a woodland scene for a little while, and I had forgotten just how difficult they are in Oil paint, especially Winter ones with the complex pattern of bare branches and trunks!  Half-way through I thought perhaps I should have tackled this subject in Pastel, so I may well do a Pastel version of it too, to compare the looser technique with the tighter Oil technque. 

With a subject like this, it's a case of where do you stop - the art of suggesting rather than describing every twig - just tell the story, but leave enough for the eye to fill in the blanks. In earlier days I would have painted damned near every branch and twig, but hopefully, I'm learning to leave enough - the one thing I don't want the painting to look like is a photograph, but rather more painterly and textural.
 

11 comments:

  1. Love this, Peter. So misty and damp. Atmos a plenty. Fantastic work. It reminds me of the film Sleepy Hollow, lots of mist and things lurking around every tree. Brilliant. A real sense of mystery. I think that is also helped because you have left out enough for the viewer to put in their own interpretations and make up stories about the scene. Very clever.

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  2. Love this, Peter. So misty and damp. Atmos a plenty. Fantastic work. It reminds me of the film Sleepy Hollow, lots of mist and things lurking around every tree. Brilliant. A real sense of mystery. I think that is also helped because you have left out enough for the viewer to put in their own interpretations and make up stories about the scene. Very clever.

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  3. This piece makes me think of a path I take practically every morning. Usually greeted by some Chickadees looking for a handout! Great work.

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    1. Thank you Darrell! We don't have Chickadees over here, but similar species called Blue Tits.

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  5. I am delighted to say my partner and I purchased this lovely painting today and it's now on our wall. We are great walkers and I can just imagine us walking this pathway. It is peaceful and slightly mysterious. We will really enjoy this. Thank you for creating it!

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    1. Thank you very much Little M - I'm very pleased it has gone to a good home and thank you for bothering to comment - much appreciated! I don't know where you live, but you may not know that I also have my own gallery - www.peterbarkerfineart.co.uk - in Uppingham in Rutland, so if you ever visit, I look forward to meeting you! Thanks again and best wishes, Peter

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  6. Hi Peter, great to hear back from you. We live near Solihull so a trip to Uppingham would definitely be possible. I will get in touch again when we are planning a visit. It would be great to meet you. All the best.

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    1. Thank you Little M - you will enjoy all our artwork, hopefully, so I look forward to seeing you sometime! If you fancy a trip to Nottingham, I am also guest artist at Patchings Art Festival on Friday June 10thy, when I shall have my own tent and will be demonstrating all day - perhaps see you there? Best wishes, Peter

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  7. Hi Peter, great to hear back from you. We live near Solihull so a trip to Uppingham would definitely be possible. I will get in touch again when we are planning a visit. It would be great to meet you. All the best.

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