TM8710 Meditation with Floating Pine Needles #2 36×44 oil on panel

Meditation on Floating Pine needles #2 is the second of this year’s trilogy of interpretations based on the pond in July. Early July, with its dusting of pollen, and scattering of flotsam forms the subject. The challenge is the reflections seen through the somewhat granulated surface. I chose layered spattering to suggest the pollen, and thin glazes to control the color. When I ask myself why dusty pond surfaces attract me, I have two answers. First, figuring out the visual subtlety excites me, and second, the partly obscured reflections parallel the unknowns in life. We only ever get a glimpse. Details below. Enjoy.

TM8710 Meditation on lLoating Pine Needles #2 – detail from top of painting

TM8710 Meditation on Floating Pine needles #2 – detail from left of center

TM8710 Meditation on Floating Pine Needles#2 – detail from right of cente rwith tree reflections, floating maple leaves and pine needles

TM8710 Meditation on Floating Pine Needles #2 – detail from lower right with sky and clouds reflected in pollen-dusted water

Technical painting notes: The first, base layer of darker paint was spattered with solvent, which allowed the white layer of priming to show through. Later, I spattered solvent into wet glazes, then spattered thinned color onto that. Additional layers of glaze and spatter brought more subtlety. When spattering, the viscosity of the paint and amount of paint on the brush controls the size of the spatters. I use a soft, old watercolor brush with nylon hairs, and tap it against a paint stick.