Path to Nowhere

There are just two weeks in June when the Eklutna wildflower fields in the Matanuska-Susitna Valley are washed with ultra-violet hues of irises.... more

by Talya Johnson

Title

Path to Nowhere

Artist

Talya Johnson

Medium

Painting - Oil

Description

There are just two weeks in June when the Eklutna wildflower fields in the Matanuska-Susitna Valley are washed with ultra-violet hues of irises. Prickly roses, Shooting Stars, and Chocolate Lilies provide lovely touches of contrast to the display. While quite visible from the highway, vehicles zoom past at 65 miles per hour, their drivers seemingly unaware of the miracle quickly passing them by.

Every summer, the Painted Ladies and I journey into the fields several times to paint en plein air (a French term meaning in open air). As I painted this scene, with the barely visible, overgrown path, I contemplated my own painting journey. There are times when this less traveled journey can seem a path to nowhere, yet to those who persevere, the path leads to places of beauty that few others will discover.

The original is a 9 by 12 inch oil painting on linen archival board. It is an impressionist depiction of the Eklutna flats in Alaska during full bloom in June. It was painted on site, and completed in my studio. The reproduction is sure to bring a breath of an Alaskan summer into your home or office. The painting was donated to the KAKM Public Television auction of 2011, and was auctioned live for $1200.00 to a lucky and happy bidder.

Uploaded

August 31st, 2012