Acrylic on Canvas, 

This months painting was a gift to someone special, my youngest child. The scene  The scene depicts the iconic “Whale Dance” sculpture by Jim Sardonis in Randolph, Vermont, which was commissioned in 2019. Unlike the original black granite version titled “Reverence,” that once stood on the spot, ‘Whale Dance” is made of bronze. 

The way the material plays with the light, shifting over the surfaces depending on the time of day, the angle of the sun and the mood of the sky, creates endless variations of color and reflections. It easy to think the colors of these magnificent  14 to 16 foot Tails may never appear to be the same color twice. 

On the day I captured this scene the setting sun cast deep shadows that were contrasted by dramatic knife-like blades of light at the edges. The surrounding landscape reflected hues of brown, green, and blue over the warm bronze tones, creating a mesmerizing interplay of earth and metal.

I painted this piece at the request of my child as a birthday gift. It will be framed this month, ready to bring home the beauty of this terrestrial salute to the sea-dwelling mammals.