Description

Alix Hallman Travis, “Gardening Begins”, Oil on canvas, 36×36 in.$1950. 2019.  That long awaited moment is here–it is finally warm enough to plant:  all kinds of gardens, from “pick your own”, community gardens, orchards, farming, antique formal gardens and more, too far away for us to see.

To compose the variety of planting I was seeing around me into one moment in time I consulted the 16th century painter, Pieter Brugel, the younger who painted many details of Flemish agricultural life from close up to very far away.

I have toned my canvas a cardboard brown and frequetly use the toned canvas as one of the colors/values/textures in the work.  I have applied my paint with a palette knife which also contributes to the activity the painting depicts.