Unexpected
It started beautiful, a mild and sunny Spring day. By late afternoon the clouds were gathering and a darkness spread across the landscape. The first clap of thunder was unexpected as we did not notice the flash. The startled birds had taken to flight by the time the second flash lit the darkening sky, followed by an earth shaking rumble of thunder.
I am reluctant to paint spectacular natural phenomena. Whether its a sunset or cloud formation, or a grossly unusual gnarled tree. If they are faithfully depicted the integrity of the image is suspect. After all, an artist can imagine any scene and the resultant image may be a figment of his/her imagination.
This scene is from the imagination. I tried to create a natural landscape as it was in this split second of the lightning strike. Not spectacular, just natural beauty. Hopefully, in its normality it will be accepted and invite the spectator to explore.
The shape of the lightning reminded me of an inverted tree. So the scene was created based on the similarity between these two very different natural forms. The world was divided down the middle. Heavenly lit on one side, contrasting with the chaotic, gritty natural world.
As usual I’ll post the video of the painting process in a few days. See you then.
PictureS 
This is fantatsic. Very good composition considering you said you did it from imagination. Keep up the good work!
-JH
Thank you Jacklyn.
It’s beautiful!!I
I’m looking forward to the video.
Esther
Thank you Esther, I hope you like the video.
I like this very much. The movement of the birds and the form of the lightening have a very natural feeling.
Thank you. I’m delighted you liked 🙂
Thank you. I could learn a lot from your bird paintings.
Very kind of you to say so!
I really love your paintings, because they are so realistically and look so vivid so that you think you could be part in the story told by the picture.
I like creating inviting landscapes. Thank you Juliane for enjoying the painting.
Love the lightening!
Thank you Kathie.
Wow! So beautiful!
Thank you, glad you liked.
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Amazing!!
Thanks Jules.