Harvest

13 in x 21 in,

12/25

This painting is all about Fall, with colors and textures referencing Autumn leaves, pumpkins, apples, gourds and a plentiful harvest.  The underlying geometric pattern was made primarily with circular arcs laid down with a compass, but also with straight lines through interstices to give symmetry and complexity.  The composition is symmetrical along both the vertical and horizontal axes, and it has the feel of a stained-glass window or a rose window in a cathedral. The central circular form acts like a lens to anchor the piece, and the repeated arcs and wedges create a sense of rotation.  The palette leans into harvest tones—gold, ochre, rust, deep green, with cooler greens and a few smoky grays added to keep the image from becoming monotonously warm.  I added a lot of impasto and texture to the piece.  Some segments are smooth and satin-like, while others have a crumpled, almost geological texture to honor the land from which a bountiful harvest depends. There are small metallic-looking circles stamped onto the painting that reference seeds planted in the spring that promise a good Fall harvest. All of the complexity in color, pattern and texture gives the painting the feel of something organic, while the symmetry of the work offers a meditative calm.  Saturated color and glittering textures suggest abundance and festivity that can be interpreted as a celebration of cyclical time—the turning of seasons, growth and gathering.