One thing I love about being in nature is that there are these spots that make a very atypical impression. The spot I have painted here is such a place with an almost tropical jungle feeling about it. Now, I have never been to a tropical forest myself, so my imagination probably plays a part in this…
First, there was this enormous density of warm, solid green ferns that covered the ground completely. Then your eyes move upward, and you can see all the solid tree trunks that are covered with thin, smooth layers of moss and warm, earthy textures. The transition in color is almost seamless. Looking through the trees, you can see that there is water, which creates an open space where the bright sunlight of the day can make its way through. And some of these sun rays make their way through the scene in front of me as well, creating very bright, warm spots that alternate together with the dense patches of green leaves, forming a natural mosaic of light and shadow.
When I set up my easel and started to paint, I started to thinly sketch out my composition in bright red. To be honest, the color with which I make my sketch, I do think about it and try to make a conscious choice; however, I am still testing the waters at that moment, so I don’t put too much weight on the color I use at that moment. I can still go in many directions, and the sketch doesn’t have to determine how I continue. In this case though, using the vibrant red felt completely in place. Red is a complementary color of green, and these first few brushstrokes on the canvas just came towards me. But it made me realize this wasn’t a painting that was supposed to blend into the scene; it wanted to stand out and celebrate the dense green foliage in front of me. It was in the midst of summer, with mosquitoes all around, with leaves growing and moving in the warmth and light, and with the sound of birds in the air. Life was happening with intensity, and I joined.
