TM8534 Accompaniment 36×40 oil on panel

Late light, that time when colors begin to warm and soften. A time when colors lose their names, but gain adjectives – reddish brown, lavender-tinged gray, crimson black. The poet W.S. Merwin wrote a poem titled “To the Morning (1)” which contains a line that sums up the circumstances I encountered on the day I began this painting. Merwin says

“…Was there once a day when I knew what to ask looking into the bright hour while it was arrayed before me…”

The bright hour, luminous light with an undefined source. Magical – few words, but perhaps a series of paintings?

Encountering a radiant lily, then seeing the petite bladderworts in its company, is also the subject of the painting. Flagrant beauty surrounded by modestly enchanting companions. I identify more with the bladderwort, which can be so easily overlooked.

Enjoy. Details below.

TM8534 Accompaniment – close-up of lily and bladderwort

TM8535 Accompaniment – detail from left side with lily pads, bladderwort, duckweed

TM8534 Accompniment – close-up of lily pads and duckweed

Technical painting notes: Layered transparent glazes were used to create the in-between tones in the painting (transparent pigments mixed into an alkyd medium, applied thinly)