Canyon Oak
Canyon Oak - 9 x 12 - oil on hardboard
The Angeles National Forest provided the subject matter for this study of an oak tree along a canyon trail. These past few weeks observing nature and letting it inspire my paintings has been a real joy, even though the temperatures have been in the high nineties and 100s. The hills in the background are the Verdugos, for any of you in the area that want a landmark. In the summertime most of the brush is dry and bleached out but here and there you can see bits of greenery in the chapparal.
We went on a canyon hike a few evenings ago but turned back as soon as the mountains were fully enveloped in shade. We saw posted warnings about mountain lions and some snorting noises in the bushes spooked me a little. At first I thought - wild pig? But it occurred to me that maybe it was something else and I didn’t really want to stay to find out. So we made ourselves look big and I sang (loudly) all the way home. La, la, la!
This is a nice piece. The Mountain Lion sign would scare me to!
Do I see a lion lurking? I don’t think so, but that would be scary. I like the shadows on the road here and the darkness of the huge tree. You are a prolific painter and confident. I’m sure I would be very messy with oil paints if I went back to them.
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The capturing of light and shadow again, is perfect! Love the hints of orange and gold in the Oak. Even if it was a boar, I’m not sure that woud be any better, I think they are probably more aggressive. Like
the singing idea, I’ll keep it in mind, my singing could scare off anything! LOL
Lovely! And I’d have been spooked by the sign and the snorting too.
i love the variety in your brushstrokes, and your subdued palette
This is a beautiful, serene scene. Great work! That mountain lion would’ve scared me, too. Respect the wildlife, sing loudly! I like that.