Study, Crossroads, a plein air landscape, is the second addition to my "What's Your 20?" series of works to celebrate my 20th anniversary of working as a professional artist. I painted this subject on location in East Tennessee, and it drew my interest because of how it evoked my childhood in southern Wisconsin: A towering, cloud-studded sky over a vast landscape.
This subject was indeed at a rural crossroad, but the title has a more nuanced meaning for me. It's been one helluva summer here in Tennessee. My Dad has been in and out of the hospital, dodging death a couple of times. I've tried to help both him and my Mom as best as I can, and sometimes it's difficult to come back to my easel and paint. When I got out to this location, I felt the inexorable pull between youth and, shall we say, NOT youth?
It's been an emotional summer. I was very happy to have the opportunity to work outside in such a beautiful location to capture this magical moment.
