by Kristin Maija Peterson

Artwork Description

A CHANGE IS COMING

20.0 x 28.0 inches

I seem to be painting a lot of leaves these days. Plant leaves, tree leaves, dried and dead leaves. Leaves in a landscape, leaves up close. From a scientific perspective, leaves are individual powerhouses, eating the sun, and absorbing carbon dioxide while releasing oxygen. Each leaf, no matter the species, (except succulents) has a network of veins and arteries that fuel plants and trees with glucose, the same simple sugar our brains run on. From an average human perspective, leaves buffer our overabundance of man-made sounds, tree leaves protect us from the sun’s harmful rays. Most people will tell you a walk in a canopied forest has a calming effect. From an artistic perspective, leaves hold an aesthetic that is balanced and transformative. I love seeing buds being pushed open by new golden leaves in spring. In autumn, I am drawn to their changing shapes and colors, a form of organic origami. From an environmental perspective, I pay close attention to the background. So much of our ground is either paved in concrete or blacktop. Both contribute to climate change by covering vital soil that sequesters carbon, creating dirty water run-off from heavy rains, and absorbing the sun making everything hotter. I dream of permeable paved roads so rainwater can be filtered before it lands in lakes and rivers. How lovely to walk in a neighborhood where instead of concrete sidewalks, there was a gentle footpath flanked by ribbons of wildflowers. A change is coming. NOTE: This piece is made using professional-grade watercolors and archival ink. Available for purchase. Currently unframed.

Artwork Details

Medium: Painting Watercolor

Genre: Realism