Acrylic on canvas, stretched and ready to hang.

Signed on the front.

‘ Listen to the Morning’ has been a long time coming! I’ve been working on this canvas, on and off, for three years, but until now I hadn’t captured what I wanted to show. The idea came from that feeling of joy, rapture even, when we have a rare morning with nothing to do but simply be.
To be in the landscape with the distinctive sounds that belong to the start of a warm sunny day.
In this painting, the woman has time to enjoy just being outside.
Listening to a rustling breeze, birds rising, flowers swaying in an old garden. But all of this is merely suggested and what was in my mind as I painted, deliberately leaving details to the viewer’s imagination. I wanted the only her face to be more fully described, so that we can see her pleasure in the moment.
To bring this painting into a room would add the feeling of quiet, private joy. Background colours are various neutrals making the figure with the dark mass of hair and rich vibrant shades of her gown a vibrant contrast. Minute, barely discernible details in the background allow a gradual discovery or the viewer’s imagination to decide what they might be.
Although colour is vibrant and the surface textured, the painting exudes a calming appearance.