"Contemplation's Gate"
Updated: Aug 4, 2022
16" x 12"
Acrylic on Canvas Paper
Copyright Marla J. Loss
I couldn't finish this painting until I met these people. Due to upper and lower back pain, I was able to work on this landscape only 10 to 15 minutes a day. But I was finally able to complete it because I can now paint for a whole hour pretty much without pain! Thank you from the bottom of my heart to Dr. Mukalel and his staff at PainMD Houston and Constance Johnson, PT at Fyzical Therapy and Balance Center in Conroe.
Thank you to Nolan Habagger for naming my painting. And thank you, God!
Creating a hard line for treetops that are supposed to be receding into the distance is normally considered an amateur mistake. The rule of atmospheric perspective says that as objects recede into the background, they appear lighter and fuzzier. Instead of making that soft, somewhat blended transition of treeline into sky, I did the exact opposite and painted a strong wide line around almost all the shapes. I also used the edge of my brush like a pencil to draw very thin lines into the grass and especially the clouds.
For this picture, I was inspired by Monet's "Road to Chailly" composition. He didn't paint the landscape that was in front of him exactly, instead improvising something new. Yet again I made something different in my turn. While painting, my mind was turned towards healing. My hope is that "Contemplation's Gate" can help one's mind incline toward rest and tranquility.
Contact me at marlajloss.com or marlajkloss@gmail.com for hand-signed prints or questions. The original is available for $495 for a limited time.