Morning fresh snow: chestnuts (en plein air) 2015

Alfred Freddy Krupa painted this watercolor, Morning fresh snow: chestnuts (en plein air), working in a small format that feels immediate and intimate. The cool palette of blues and greens suggests a frosty morning, and the washes create a soft, atmospheric effect. I’m always fascinated by the way an artist handles their materials, and here, the texture of the paper plays a big role. The paint is thin and transparent, allowing the white of the paper to shine through, creating a sense of light and air. Look at the way Krupa uses a dry brush technique in the foreground, dragging the paint across the surface to suggest the texture of snow. The trees are rendered with simple, gestural strokes, capturing their essential forms without getting bogged down in details. It reminds me a little of some of the early landscapes by Agnes Martin, but with a bit more representational intent. Ultimately, it’s that kind of combination - where observation and abstraction meet - that makes this painting so intriguing.