There is something primitive about it. The different shades of green and brown are all so subtly different, yet they do something to you; it all fits together. I hear a bird sound that I don’t quite recognize: high, long, soaring, pure tones. To see what it is, I turned on the Merlin app, but it seems to only hear a wren sitting closer by. Meanwhile, I look again at the green in front of me: the cool, dark green of the ferns and the warmer, orange-like green of dried moss. It is as if I have stepped into a painting by Ivan Shishkin. Merlin just told me that there is a siskin nearby, a yellowish bird. And also a bullfinch has joined me.
I have slowly started painting, sitting on a small rug today so that I can test a different perspective. The background is an old study I made earlier this year of water lily leaves. It is quite dark and seems to set the tone for today’s work as well.
I just took a break and looked for another spot. It is just after noon. It is always quieter in the forest then. A few birds are singing, but nothing compared to the morning or evening. Behind me I heard a great spotted woodpecker, and in front of me I saw a Eurasian jay flying quietly through the pine forest further on. All around me I see scenes suitable for large paintings. But I only have a small canvas with me right now. The sun shines through the leaves, creating beautiful bright green spots. I myself am standing in the shade, and my canvas is very dark compared to all the light I see before me. I decide to turn this moment into a small color experiment. And once back in the studio, I’ll it off again…
