Forest Stream (Headwaters of the Guadalupe) 

Robert Julian Onderdonk’s *Forest Stream*, made with oil on canvas, captures a very specific sense of place, but also of its particular moment in time. The painting method is loose, with visible brushwork that catches the light. Onderdonk isn’t interested in precise realism, but rather the overall effect of the scene. Note how the brushstrokes follow the forms of the trees and rocks, and the way the water is evoked with gestural marks of blue and white. This approach reflects the influence of Impressionism, an artistic movement that emphasized capturing the fleeting qualities of light and atmosphere. However, Onderdonk gives the style a distinctive Southwestern accent, reflecting the character of the Guadalupe River. You can almost feel the heat radiating from the canvas, a sharp contrast to the French landscapes that inspired the Impressionists. By emphasizing the landscape, Onderdonk also implicitly celebrates the potential of this place – an artistic approach that definitely ties into its economic value. This work is a reminder that landscape painting is never truly neutral.