TM8530 September Song 36×48 oil on panel

September Song is a study in quiet transitions. The turning of summer into fall, and the movement from green to gold and russet, are the obvious subject. But I also wanted to express the idea of transition in the physicality of the paint, and in the nuanced color shifts. The close harmonies of color achieved with layers of glaze and fine spattering contribute to the soft feel of the painting. Up close, one can see the drift of colored paint dots mediating the major shapes and unifying the sense of light and atmosphere. The grasses, some scraped into the surface and some directly applied with a brush and thin paint, create a pattern of organic verticals superimposed on the linear reflections of tree trunks and sky. These verticals contrast with the horizontal shimmer of the water and its duckweed. Details below. Enjoy.

TM8530 September Song – close-up showing effect of layered glazes and fine spattering to create soft edges

TM8530 September Song – detail from lower left showing use of scraping, layered glazes, layered spattering

TM8530 September Song – detail showing grasses, lily pad, reflections