The essay analysis the work” Pseudotuga Menziesii” by the artist Laurel Balm.
Laurel Balm’s Pseudotuga Menziesii The acrylic on canvas created by Laurel Balm depicts the evergreen conifer trees native to northern Western America. The common name of the tree is the Douglas Fir Tree (Douglas-Fir 2016). The painting impresses with its composition giving it a natural look. One can feel like standing in the forest under a huge Douglas tree, looking up seeing the endless sky. The paper will discuss different visual elements used to support the composition.
The picture displays a group of trees reaching the sky. The leaves of the tree are sharp edged, and one can feel that the wind is blowing shown by the movement of the leaves moving toward the sky. It appears as if the artist is trying to depict in its destructive form. It is nature which provides us with all the necessities of life and it is nature again, which can damage and take away everything in seconds. The swirling effect given on the top indicates as if a storm is going to come. Looking at the picture one can feel like standing under the fir tree and experiencing the majestic powers of the forest and nature. The painting is the true example of contemporary art capturing the short lived qualities of nature as nothing is permanent in this world. Art is an excellent medium for the humans to open their eyes to the small little details of the natural world around us which is full of life and meanings. The artist has used bold shades of green, blue and brown to represent trees, sky and the bark of trees. The color combination leaves a deep impact; it is striking to the eyes. It is almost like creating a 3D effect. The bold color scheme hints to an experience wherein the artist must have been exposed to a condition wherein he saw the nature’s fury with wind blustering and creating a swirling effect in the sky. How an artist makes use of color is an essential element in Art. With the right play of color, artist can achieve the right response and can control the mood of his viewers.
Balm has used strong and distinct lines in his artwork to define his elements in the composition. His lines and strokes indulge in the realistic display of nature. The artist has managed to create the aerial effect depicting the endless sky with hues of white. The visual elements carry a definite presence and importance in the pictorial representation of the land with forests with numerous trees. The lines in the artwork capture the edges of the fir tree, crisp sky as well as the base of the trees.
The artist creates a right perspective, using light and shadow. Without the proper play of light and shadow, it would be impossible to heighten the expressive part of the painting. One can sense depth and silence created because of those shadowed and lighted areas. The absence of the shadowed and lighted area would flatten the image, and it will lose its perspective entirely, which will make the painting look lifeless and dull. The lighted sky comes as a hope to the viewer, imagining if one is lost in the thick forest of conifer fir trees, the light of the sky would fill with hope to survive and reach out.
There is no doubt that the painting by Laurel Balm serves a purpose which is just beyond expressing the physical look of the Fir tree. There could be various meanings which could be attached to the painting. The painting represents a deeper meaning bringing awareness that human should not presume that nothing is unbeatable. Nature when faced directly can shake the reality of human existence.
Works Cited
"Douglas-Fir." .na.fs.fed.us. 2016. Web. 23 April. 2016.
