Impact shows a group of young trees losing their leaves at the end of summer. The background of this piece was painted to mimic rust, in warm shades of orange, brown, red, and yellow. On the surface, Impact is an uncomplicated look at the calm beauty of nature, made more dynamic with paint splatters representing falling leaves. There is, however, a deeper meaning.
The inspiration for this painting came from a photograph, Temagami #18, shot by one of my favourite artists, Canadian photographer Edward Burtynsky. I saw this photograph last year at the Kitchener-Waterloo Art Gallery, and couldn't get it out of my mind. It depicts iron sheets and pipes at the site of an abandoned mine. You have to look twice to figure out what is natural vs manufactured in this landscape. The forest space has been impacted by human activity, and now nature is slowly reclaiming it. I admire the power and resilience of nature, but part of me also wonders: would it not be reasonable to expect companies to clean up when they abandon a space such as this one?
Due to its size, texture, and colouring, Impact instantly adds energy to any room. It works equally well in traditional, rustic, or modern environments.
Mixed Media: acrylic paint, marble dust, wax paint, spray paint, and liquid asphalt (rubberized). Painted on Gallery Depth Cradled Birchwood Panel
