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https://www.saatchiart.com/en-gb/studio/art/12906175/overview
Title: “Sanctuary of Falling Light”
Medium: Oil Pastel on Paper
Dimensions (approx.):
Artwork: 36 x 38 cm
Framed: 46 x 36 cm
Framed: Yes — sold framed as pictured
Year: 2025
Style: Contemporary Landscape / Measured Impressionism
Surface: Acid-Free Heavyweight Paper
Technical Description
Sanctuary of Falling Light is a vibrant oil pastel painting that blends classical symbolism with contemporary texture, offering a portal into a glowing forest of layered memory and atmosphere. The composition features tall, vertical tree trunks framing a luminous central sphere—sun or moon—enveloped by spontaneous, jewel-toned foliage and scattered pigment.
Medium: High-quality oil pastels were used directly onto acid-free heavyweight paper. The pigment sits thickly on the surface in layered patches, with no solvent or digital intervention. This hands-on process reveals the tactile immediacy of the medium, preserving the energy of each mark.
Technique & Texture: The piece was constructed using a dual technique of precision linework for tree forms and expressive point application for foliage. Textural contrasts are emphasized: dry, linear strokes in the bark; dabs and scumbles in the leaves; and smooth, softly blended transitions in the light-drenched background. The confetti-like bursts of blue, gold, and red are laid intentionally with palette fragments or the pastel edge to mimic organic scatterings of falling leaves and filtered light.
Composition & Color Use: The structure of the forest is built on a rhythmic vertical axis, drawing the eye upward while the radiant core anchors the viewer in the center. The palette transitions from warm earth tones—rust, ochre, sienna—into cool electric blues and saturated greens, suggesting a forest suspended between seasons or states of being.
The glowing orb at the composition’s heart is deliberately ambiguous: it could be the rising sun, the full moon, or even a symbolic eye. It functions as both destination and origin—a contemplative focal point amidst the visual vibrancy.
Planning & Spatial Approach: The artist planned the work with a clear center-focus structure, using triangular framing formed by leaning trees to enhance a sense of sanctuary or gateway. A gentle foreground path hints at roots or trails, adding subtle depth and grounding the viewer in the scene’s stillness.
Philosophical & Artistic Intent
Inspired by the decorative symbolism of Klimt and the immersive tranquility of natural spaces, Sanctuary of Falling Light explores the idea of the forest not as wilderness, but as refuge. This is a spiritual landscape—intended not to mimic real forest geometry but to invoke the feeling of protection, inner light, and transient beauty.
The falling flecks of color echo confetti, stars, or petals—suggesting celebration, surrender, or the passage of time. The forest becomes a place of silent ceremony, where change and stillness coexist. The artist invites the viewer to step into this space and pause.
This work emerged from a personal meditation on balance: the chaos of color balanced by the order of structure, and the wildness of gesture contained within a harmonious form. It is not merely a visual piece—it’s a quiet event.
Collector’s Note
Sanctuary of Falling Light is a unique, original work and will not be reproduced. It is signed by the artist on the front and accompanied by a certificate of authenticity. Sold framed as pictured, ready for immediate hanging and long-term preservation.
This piece is ideal for collectors who value meditative, emotionally resonant landscapes with a tactile presence. It brings both energy and calm into a space—perfect for reflective interiors, creative studios, or anywhere art is meant to inspire pause.
Laura Bernardeschi Nelson artworld and travels 