Settling Down

This painting is too large to scan in its entirety. The first and last images are digital photos. The detailed scans below offer a more accurate picture of the glorious colors found in this piece.

The words in this piece read: "The wind blows gently... my roots grow slowly... and I claim this silent hilltop as my home."

(The image continues around the staple-free sides allowing you to display this painting unframed.)

I think this is one of my all time favorite tree pieces. And that is saying a lot because I have painted roughly a gazillion trees. But none of them have captured quite the sense of serene peaceful love-of-life that this image has. With those warm, warm hues and that brave solitary tree. I am not sure what it is about it, but this one really tugs at my heart. Makes me feel soft. Settling Down continues my interest in the subtle inclusion of language in art with a single phrase painted in three parts in very tiny letters across the bottom. The words read, "The wind blows gently... my roots grow slowly... and I claim this silent hilltop as my home."

Unspoiled nature always calms my heart. It is my hope that this painting will bring a bit of natural comfort and sweet hope to the home or office of some fellow lone-wolf out there.

Settling Down began with a coating of black acrylic gesso. It is that dark underpainting which gives this piece such luminance. Light colors painted over dark have an uncommon glow to them. Most of this image was painted with wide soft brushes and thinned paint that I laid down in many many layers. Building up the depth of this scene. When the background was finally complete, I used a tiny detail brush to paint the compelling little tree and to add the words.