Beneath the Boughs – Painting of the Week

Yin and Yang

This spring, I spotted a rabbit from my studio window as she settled against the trunk of our huge evergreen tree. Beneath the Boughs, sheltered by scraggly branches and dappled light under a quiet canopy, she stayed perfectly still and listened carefully. Painting this scene in gouache became a wonderful exercise in capturing nature’s quiet harmony and sense of protection.

To me, this piece is all about balance and contrast—the classic interaction of Yin and Yang. The small, soft, rounded rabbit grounds itself against the vast, rugged presence of the straight tree trunk, while feathery branches add a layer of mystery. By pushing the rich darks of the trunk and rabbit directly against the bright, shimmering light beyond them, the opposing elements of texture, value, and scale come together to create a unified whole.

P.S. Please visit the EVENTS page on my website to mark your calendar! We have several exciting upcoming events:

• The Midwestern: Final week at The Rourke Art Museum.
• Gouache Demonstration: September 9th at the Arts Advocates Show in West Acres.
• Watercolor Demonstration: September 11th at the Rural Art Show (Red Door Art Gallery, Wahpeton).
• Red River Artists Network Exhibition: Open through September 18th at the Diederich Gallery at MSUM.
• TAG Show: Coming soon to Grand Forks.