Des Moines has its own Chinese pavilion in the Robert D. Ray Asian Gardens, situated on the Des Moines River not far from the Botanical Center. It's an imposing, open pavilion in the traditional Chinese style, built as a memorial to the vision and moral leadership. The gardens are a peaceful spot on the river bank across from downtown.
Over the past couple of years I've spent time painting in the Ray Gardens, mostly the pavilion. For me the resonant colors and surrounding gardens provide any number of potential subjects for painting. The work below, "Landmark," came about because of my fascination with the roofline of the pavilion juxtaposed against the similar shapes of foliage and clouds. Although this is a work of realism, the abstract elements were particularly exciting to juxtapose. This is a studio work that grew out of several sketching sessions on-site last summer.
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| Hoff, "Landmark," oil on panel, 9x12 |
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