Painting of the Month- May 2018

The Gentle Approach 24" x72"  on display at ELEVATION GALLERY, CANMORE, ALBERTA

The Gentle Approach

I must admit, I do have a hard time sometimes letting go of some of my paintings. And such was the case with this piece. The Gentle Approach is part of a new series that explores the classic fairy tale Little Red Riding Hood. It was recently shipped out to Elevation Gallery in beautiful Canmore, Alberta in time for my solo show Into the Woods opening on May 5th.

I love the scale, (24" x 72"), the composition and palette of this work. It just came together and flowed so easily from my brush. It also continues my love affair with the sky that is so lusciously translated onto the board by the molten wax. In this work, I have set the small Red Riding Hood figure in a diminished perspective amid an expansive landscape.  

It's a romantic piece — an homage to one of my favourite painters; Caspar David Friedrich (1774-1840). He was a German Romantic painter who is best known for his mid-period allegorical landscapes that depicted contemplative figures silhouetted against night skies, morning mists and barren trees.

I’m looking forward to seeing this painting again when I arrive in Canmore later this week for my opening. It's a gentle piece, hence the title and it evokes a sense of peacefulness in me along with a pride in its execution.  

Click here to see all the paintings in this new series titled Little Red.
 

– Susan Wallis

All images copyright Susan Wallis 2018

Detail of A Gentle Approach