2024
Arcylic on Canvas
20 inch x 20 inch
This vibrant landscape painting captures the mystical beauty of the Laurentide Mountains through a stylized, dreamlike interpretation. The scene is dominated by a striking color palette where cool turquoise and teal mountains rise against a warm yellow-gold sky. The mountains are rendered in gradients of blue that create a sense of atmospheric depth, giving the impression of layers receding into the distance.
In the foreground, a serene blue stream surrounded by Cattails cuts through a lush forest of emerald green oak and spruce trees. The forest floor is dotted with meticulously painted mushrooms native to the region – distinctive golden Chanterelles, robust Porcini with their characteristic brown caps, and the of Amanita Jacksonii. The bright orange-yellow Chicken of the woods (Laetiporus sulphureus) are found on the trunks of the oak trees.
Two cardinal birds with vibrant red plumage soar through the golden sky, drawing the viewer’s eye upward toward the painting’s focal point—an extraordinary sun. This celestial body is rendered as a perfect circle in rich vermilion red, intricately detailed with swirling golden lines that create a mesmerizing pattern reminiscent of topographic maps or tree rings. These metallic lines catch and reflect light differently depending on the viewing angle, adding an interactive, kinetic element to the artwork.
The composition brilliantly balances stylization with naturalistic elements. The trees frame the scene on either side, creating a natural vignette that draws the eye inward along the river and up toward the mountains and sun. This piece evokes the spiritual connection between forest ecosystems and cosmic elements, suggesting that even the smallest mushroom on the forest floor is connected to the greater celestial bodies above. The painting invites viewers into a meditative state, encouraging contemplation of nature’s interconnectedness while celebrating the specific beauty of the Laurentide mountain ecosystem with its distinctive flora and fauna.
