Home from Whistler, 2023
Today we are reviewing this surrealistic landscape painting by Sam Siegel. Let’s dive into this wavy and spiky landscape.
Review Time
Within first look of this painting, the trees look like scales from reptiles. That for sure is a focal point for the viewers and an interesting shape for trees. Part from the trees, the landscape is dynamically uncanny, although the painting suggests perspective is present, but it looks flat with no depth. Despite that I like the wavy brushstrokes and line by the artist, it feels like the mountains are waving along the winds from the shores and sea, while the sea remains flat and stern. The mountains look surprisingly smooth, because usually mountains are painted with a lot of texture to represents the rocks, trees, and soil. But Sam’s mountains are smooth and wavy, packed with scales-like trees, almost resembling teeth from snails. The overall visual from the painting is warm yet uncanny due to the trees, but it is what catch the attention of the viewers.
My Opinion
I like the artist’s approach to landscape painting with a more minimalist element but still decorated with peculiar details. Since it is a landscape journal entry by the artist, I am sure the place holds dearly to the artist. What catches my eyes are the abstract shapes of trees on the mountains, looks like teeth, scales from reptiles or really big leaves growing out of the polished mountain soil. In my other interpretation is that the mountain looks like giant reptiles in disguise as “mountains”, especially the resemblances of green iguanas. Overall, I do like the colour palette, it is very warm, sunny and makes me want to go there to enjoy the breeze from the sea and the smell of the forest.
Sam Siegel is a Canadian abstract landscape painter. He is known for his sea side/lake landscape paintings with abstract plant-life depictions.
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