Butler, Benjamin (2005). In the Forest [oil on canvas].

This work is amazing. A realistic, believable forest is created through the arrangement of rectangular organic shapes, the combination of perpendicular and curved arrangement of them, and a complementary color scheme. On a strictly formal and conceptual level, this is exactly the kind of work I am striving to create. |

The subject of this work, a sparse forest of spruce trees, crystallizes strictly through our psychological ordering of shape and the attributes used to create them. This work inspires a sense of life and rhythm through oil on canvas. Vertical lines formatted with slight texture in combination with an analogous color scheme do most of the heavy lifting in this work. Curved and lateral strokes create a complicated network of elements in addition to graceful directional contrast. In combination with value, these elements create a harmonizing pattern across the picture plane.

This work's reliance on shape results in a somewhat shallow sense of depth. Overall stroke measure builds some space where longer vertical strokes penetrate further down on the canvas. In addition, value provides something of a skeleton for the illusion of depth. That is, moderate values intermingle and sink with starker, more terminal values advancing. Pictorially, this work creates a stable sense of approximate symmetry.

All elements are organic and defined. The natural and muddy color scheme reinforces this sense of life. This use of color is the single-strongest source of variety and contrast in this work. Tonality provides more subtle, but still effective, contrast with values occupying either end of the scale much more than the middle.

Directional forces are vertical and at the same time draw the viewer into the picture plane. The horizontal orientation of the picture frame supports this flow. The eye follows along the value pattern Butler has created through similarly-paced light and dense shapes. The viewer's position is a stationary, single point, the plane of her vision is parallel with the ground.

Butler's blending and arrangement of the elements of shape, analogous color, value and pattern is simply amazing. All elements depend on and support each other seamlessly, the definition of unity.