Enchanted Forest 1985

Eyvind Earle made this "Enchanted Forest" with paint, probably oil or acrylic, and a whole lotta mood. I can see him layering those blues and blacks, pushing and pulling the paint to make these dreamy, rounded shapes emerge. Look at how the paint is applied thinly to create a smooth, almost velvety surface, except for some texture on the trees. It’s a very even surface, and this smoothness lends the painting a sense of calm and order. Those ghostly white trees in the foreground, they're like whispers, aren’t they? It reminds me a little bit of Milton Avery's landscapes but with a touch of something more mysterious. Each artist is working with the last one, building on ideas of the previous generation. Painting is like that, you know. It’s a conversation that never ends.