"The Silent Retreat"

Original bokeh oil painting

An invitation to retreat to the cool sanctuary of the trees. This painting is your daily 'Forest Bath' - a practice of being quiet and calm amongst trees, observing nature around you and breathing deeply. 'Forest bathing' is available on prescription in Japan, where it is known as 'Shinrin-Yoku', and is associated with a range of physical and mental health benefits.

"Glory be to God for dappled things"
Gerard Manley Hopkins

This painting belongs to a series of Bokeh Paintings recently exhibited at the Art Attic Gallery as part of the 'B' Exhibition. The 'blurry light'/bokeh passing through the trees borrows another concept from Japanese culture - that of 'Komorebi': a word that describes dappled sunlight passing through tree foliage. It is about learning to look for the light while passing through the shadows, and having faith that each little shaft of light will continue to light up your path.

The soft focus gives the painting an air of abstraction and conveys a message of the ways light finds you through the darkness and the beauty of that softness, of taking the focus off the 'sharp edges' and 'gritty details'.

About the painting

This is an original oil painting on canvas measuring 63cm wide by 94cm tall. It is framed in a custom-made frame painted in a deep forest green. 8 gold nails secure the canvas within the frame and add a nice detail. The frame is 6cm deep.