I recently completed a large oil painting, Golden Tranquility (50x60 inches), inspired by the memory of autumn scenery. The piece took two months to finish and combines techniques of both palette knife and brushwork. Most of the painting was created with a palette knife, layering bold textures, while a brush was used for final touches, adding refinement and contrast. This interplay of tools emphasizes a deeply personal and expressive approach.
In this painting, I focused on the deliberate direction of both knife strokes and brushwork, using layered colors to reflect the richness of nature and the passage of time. Each layer overlaps like the cycles of withering and renewal in autumn leaves, preserving the essence of the season. The brushstrokes feel intentional yet spontaneous, as though crafting poetic notations in color. Like calligraphy, each stroke conveys a balance of precision and fluidity, creating a rhythm that imbues the painting with emotion, movement, and a quiet elegance.
The loose, expressive brushwork enhances the texture, making the flowers and grasses feel almost tangible—the softness of petals and the crispness of reeds seem within reach. This technique breathes life and energy into the scene, capturing the vitality of autumn while maintaining its reflective tranquility.
When viewers ask me where the scene is set, I often turn the question back to them: “Where does this painting take you?” For me, it represents a blend of memory, imagination, and emotion—a personal recollection of autumn that invites others to find their own connections within it. I believe each viewer will interpret it uniquely, shaped by their own experiences and memories.