
This work so perfectly captures the depth and richness of a landscape in the softest hazy light that one might imagine would be the perspective of a bird, soaring overhead early morning.
The river snakes its way through the valleys in the centre of the painting, punctuating the deep blue/green mass of lush hills. Fertile ground spanning up from the river transforms the landscape from the deepest blues through to pale greens at the middle green at the top of high peaks. This layering of colour adds depth and the truthful nature of this layering encourages me to reflect on natural landscapes I have wandered through- having grown up in Tasmania I have certainly seen some of the best, but if only I had seen them from above!
The way Henshall has framed this scene encourages ones eye to follow the winding river, trailing the valleys and deep/ dark crevices of the landscape until it emerges, into the clear open sea beyond. Though only a small glimpse is offered, I am drawn to move ahead of the image into the serenity beyond.
The exhibition is current until 30 August 2014: http://www.quadrantgallery.com.au/phil-henshall.html