The Return of the Prodigal Color

Perspectives from The Artist's Road

Claude Monet Painting by the Edge of a Wood John Singer Sargent

The early arrival of spring here this year has caused an explosion of rich “spring” greens on the ground and in lacy cascades in the tree canopies. With our blue skies and puffy cumulus clouds, it is an inspiring and cheerful sight after winter. Green becomes a dominant color again in our plein air palettes, especially the mixes with cadmium lemon and cobalt. It is a moment when the rhythmic architecture and warm tones of the winter tree trunks take on a new dimension while wearing their new scarves and hats of bright spring colors. It is a great time to be painting outside, and we try to get it while it is here, for we know what is coming next. The Wall of Green.

Once the trees move beyond the bright introductory spring number, the forest fills in almost top to bottom with a homogeneous blanket of deep summer green. In summer, Nature’s exuberant burst of chlorophyll dares us to discern between the many subtle nu…