Entry P
11″ x 14″, Oil on Canvas Panel
After sketching some of Dutch artist Jan Van Goyen’s landscapes, I was inspired to paint one that had similar elements with the background leading the eye to the foreground. Oil paint as a medium provides natural blending of similar colors, as seen in the grasses and hazy flowers, but it also gives a crispness to the woodshed that stands out against a mellow background. While observing Maik Berendt’s travel photography on social media, I saw one photo in particular and received his permission to use it as a reference. The subject is a rustic, dilapidated barn in Norway. This may seem an odd choice for some, but having grown up in Maine, this painting inspires haunting, nostalgic memories for me of crisp breezes, blown in from the Atlantic, with a soft hint of salt carried in the air. Through this piece, I hope to render justice to Maik Berend’s inspirational work and to God’s creation.