Tall Oaks

There's something about tall trees that is majestic and awe-inspiring.  These trees are depicted in the earliest days of spring, a very typical scene for the Illinois prairie.  There are no leaves on them yet, although the scrubby undergrowth is turning green early.  I started this painting on a  bright sunny day - the shadows are very dark because of the intensity of the sun.  I was captivated by the tall sculptural quality I saw in these beautiful trees, as well as the contrast between sun and shadow, so they became the focus of the painting.   Because of their tall majestic size, it required a larger canvas to contain them!   This canvas is 20" tall and 16" wide.