Olive and Cypress (2c)
Then came Olive and Cypress the painting (2c). I
struggled with this painting. It is overly detailed and
confirms what I mentioned earlier, about the
limitations of following reference photos too closely
(this painting came some time before that wise
revelation!) Hence I missed the essence of what I was
trying to capture – and were it not for a more
successful follow-up, I would not be showing it here!
A few years ago I decided that it was time to take
another look at Olive and Cypress. As I considered
my approach, it dawned on me that so much of the
first composition was irrelevant, in so far as my focus
on the resonance of light against dark. This brought
about the birth of Cypress shown at (2d). This was the
painting that said everything I had hoped to say the
first time around. I remain happy with this painting.
Yet I do wonder, at what point I might grow restless
and need to revisit Cypress...
Danielle Hatherley was born in Albury, Australia
and raised in Sydney. She now lives and paints
between studios in New York City and Boulder,
Colorado.
www.daniellehatherley.com