This painting shows a winding creek, and what appears to be a waterfall. However the exact location of this scene is unknown, but there are similar scenes throughout the countryside, where there are spring fed mountain creeks that are replenished after rain.
The painting is roughly broken into thirds, vertically and laterally. Downstream from the bend in the creek the water hits the edge of the rock face and spills downwards. This draws the viewer’s attention.
The artist used a few different brush techniques in this painting. Though less refined, some are similar to those used by Australian Impressionist artists. (See Streeton’s Camp at Sirius Cove, 1896). The absence of paint on the trees, on the right side of the painting, hints at Andre Derain’s (Fauve) brushstroke style, where ‘less is more’.
Both flat and round brushes have been used to apply long, vertical and soft, round dabs of paint. Colours are mostly orange-yellow for grass and rocks, green for foliage, and blue for water in the foreground. The brush strokes are angled and this captures light, and creates a wave of colour that flows backwards to the ridge. Here the blurred paint transitions into a hazy sky. This results in atmospheric perspective or visual depth.
Attention has been paid to detail, and the artist used the tip end of the handle of his paint brush, to highlight tree and rock outlines on the canvas.
Acrylic on Masonite, date unknown.
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