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Wilderness Wander

$6,950.00

Wilderness Wander 51cm x 41cm Oil on Board by Kevin Best

Some call him a magician of light. You can see why…in this stunning picture. All of Kevin’s skills are shown here with the rays of light streaming through the canopy of leaves from the enormous eucalypts found in coastal rainforest areas that Kevin loved to paint. The native Australian bush was dear to Kevin and he loved to escape into the bush whenever he could it gave him peace and inspiration all at the same time. Kevin’s fascination with nature brings with it great challenges and he grabs these challenges with delight. In this painting there are two main achievements – morning atmosphere on a calm day with backlighting. Great attention to the way nature is and a pictorial composition is what this work is all about.

Light can be diffused through mist or haze, creating a soft, dreamy effect. This technique is often used to evoke a sense of mystery or romance. Backlighting can enhance the mood of a scene, creating a sense of drama and mystery. It’s particularly effective when capturing scenes during sunrise or sunset.

Many artists say that light is Kevin’s signature. He uses it so effectively. Often warmer areas in the front of the picture get cooler as it disappears in the distance. This is accentuated in this scene by the stunning misty area rising up from the thick bush to filter the sun above. The filtered light softens the entire atmosphere making it inviting as if you were there. Both rays of light and backlighting contribute to the overall atmosphere and emotional impact of a piece of art. They allow artists to play with contrast, shadows, and highlights, adding depth and visual interest to their work. Letting the light play its impact on the natural setting is his forte and here Kevin has used light and shade, shadows, cold and hot spots to accentuate the impact of the various elements at this site. But most importantly in all of his work he captures, with great detail, the light as he saw it on that day. This demonstrates Kevin’s great love and knowledge of our rugged bush.

Kevin said one of the best parts of being a landscape artist was the challenge of light. In fact, Sir Hans Heysen said, “The greatest challenge is that of light slanting across the gum tree.” Kevin goes on…Not only light across gum trees; I grapple with light across the whole landscape! Kevin was born in January 1932 at Hamilton, NSW, a suburb of Newcastle, died in 2012. His real love of Art and great admiration for the works of Heysen, Gruner and the Heidelberg School prompted him to begin painting in 1972. His work was highly published on biscuit tins, dinner place mats, coasters, cards books and many other products helping people to become familiar with this amazing artist.

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