November 17th is National “Take a Hike” Day. While we’re not outdoors, we’re celebrating by admiring several new landscape paintings in our Holiday Small Works 2016 exhibition, now on view at Co|So through December 24th.
Vcevy Strekalovsky, Triphammer Pond, oil on panel, 8 x 10
Fall is truly something to behold in New England, and Strekalovsky embraces autumnal splendor in Triphammer Pond. While there is still greenery in the background, the leaves on the trees in the front have begun to change colors in anticipation of the colder weather. The vibrant red and oranges are reflected in the clear, calm pond waters. The rocks at the side of the painting offer an inviting spot to sit and relax while enjoying New England’s fall foliage.
Diane Nelson, Land and Sea 2, acrylic on panel, 15 x 12
There’s an element of fantasy in Nelson’s Land and Sea 2. The enormous sweeping hills are streaked with non-realistic purple and orange colors. It is easy to imagine an epic battle from Lord of the Rings or Game of Thrones taking place in such an awe-inspiring landscape. Nelson was inspired by the otherworldly backgrounds in Renaissance paintings. Evident in her work is her use of the “World Landscape”, a type of composition based on an imaginary scenic landscape with a panoramic view. Taking a hike in Nelson’s Land and Sea 2 would be anything but the ordinary!
Christopher Firger, The Tree Line, acrylic on canvas, 12 x 16
Firger’s tall trees, composed of jagged strokes, stretch up to the sky and out of the painting. The painting’s name hints at why some trees have fallen: a tree line is the edge of an environment in which trees are capable of growing. Tree lines are usually found in cold habitats or at high elevation, and it seems here that not all the trees were capable of surviving the harsh weather. Despite this, the sun shines warm on the top of the mountains, and filters through the trees, creating a cozy resting spot for an adventurous hiker.
By Erica Evans