“Leaning Tree”, 2020

James Brown

“Leaning Tree”, 2020

Watercolour on heavy wove paper

Size: (sheet) 42 x 29.7 cm; (image borderline) 21 x 21 cm.

This watercolour painting is a preliminary work that ultimately led to my oil painting titled “Ross River Floods.” The transition between these two pieces involved numerous revisions, culminating in my decision to sign the oil in 2023, three years after completing the watercolour.

Reflecting on the comparison between the two artworks reveals clear similarities and significant differences. The charred black stump in the foreground is a prominent feature of both paintings, acting as a fulcrum point, or visual anchor, balancing the awkward mass of the tree as it leans over the water. However, a key distinction lies in the treatment of the intricate tangle of fine branches at the far end of the tree. In the watercolour, I was captivated by the desire to delineate each twig within this complex arrangement. In contrast, the oil painting presents this area as a cohesive volume, emphasizing the overall mass rather than focusing on individual details.

Even more intriguing for me is the shift in meaning projected by the two works. By intention, the watercolour evokes a sense of light, capturing an ethereal early morning glow reminiscent of artists such as Samuel Palmer. Conversely, the oil painting conveys a mood of rain, depicting monsoonal downpours that can flood rivers and uproot even the sturdiest of trees.