TM8535 Terra Rosa 30×60 oil on panel

Terra Rosa, the name of a color and the color that signals the arrival of autumn.  It’s a pigment I seldom used in the past, but I’ve become entranced with it’s warmth and depth – not red, not orange, easily shaded warm or cool, and a little goes a long way. I used hints of this color throughout my newest painting – in the half-submerged grasses, in the foliage reflections, and under layers of glaze in the shadows. As with all the pondscapes, the abstracted reflections captured by the pond  form the composition and subject of this painting. The gradual tonal shifts speak to the subtle, tell-tale signs announcing a new season. Green is disappearing, ochres and rose tones are slipping into their place. I wanted to capture the warm air of early fall, hence the slightly warm blue in the sky reflections and in the sheen on the water. There are still a few lily pads, but the actual lilies are a memory. Details below. Enjoy.

TM8535 Terra Rosa – detail from lower right with grasses and reflections, floating leaves

TM8535 Terra Rosa – detail from lower left with half-submerged grasses and floating leaves

TM8535 Terra Rosa – close-up with reflections, lily pads