As the River Flows

Blackhand Gorge

The creation of As the River Flows began last March when I got a chance on a particularly warm day to go for a walk at Blackhand Gorge in Licking County. It was one of those early spring days where things weren’t really blooming yet but you could feel the beginning of the transition out of winter because of the sap running in the trees. The stems of the bushes as well as the limbs of the trees had a wonderful soft crimson hue. The buds on the trees and bushes hadn’t popped but had softened the profile of the growth lending a slightly gauzy look to the landscape. The Licking River runs through the gorge there and it was swollen that day with spring rain but the day itself was very soft and beautiful.

Techniques

My goal with this painting was to bring that feel of the seasons. I used a lot of soft grays and warm undertones to convey the feel of the changing landscape. Even the sky had peeks of soft blue among the clouds. These pastels frame the power of the rain swollen river with it’s predominant grays as it runs through the scene. The image is meant to be powerful on many levels; not only because of the power of the river but also the burgeoning life within the surrounding woods themselves. It represents the change of the seasons and the circle of life.

This is a 24″ X 30″ X 1 1/2″ acrylic on gallery wrapped canvas. I did a small 5 X 7 acrylic ‘sketch’ of the image before beginning the bigger painting.