Original artwork description:

"Spring Cut-Outs" (2023) by Vyacheslav Onyshchenko

Painted en plein air in Chernihiv, Ukraine, during the spring of 2023, "Spring Cut-Outs" by Vyacheslav Onyshchenko is a luminous and dynamic oil painting that captures the spirit of seasonal renewal. Measuring 90 by 72 centimeters, the painting is executed in oil on canvas, stretched tightly over a wooden stretcher. The work demonstrates Onyshchenko’s sensitivity to natural light, color contrasts, and atmospheric perspective, rendered with energetic, expressive brushwork.
Scene Description:
In the foreground, delicate willow branches cascade downward from the top right of the canvas, their young, bright green leaves trailing like ribbons or filigree — a visual echo of Ukrainian "vytynanka" (cut-out) folk art, which the painting title alludes to. These branches create a natural curtain that partially veils the view, bringing a sense of intimacy and seasonal immediacy to the composition.
Behind the willow, a gently flowing stream winds across the lower part of the scene, reflecting dappled sky and banks of early greenery. The earthy edges of the stream are flecked with lively brushwork in purples, ochres, and emeralds, suggesting damp soil and new grass.
In the middle ground, bare and budding trees rise vertically, silhouetted against a sunlit architectural backdrop. Their twisting trunks and sparse reddish foliage mark the lingering presence of winter, even as spring asserts itself.
Dominating the background is a majestic ensemble of a church with domes and cross-topped towers. The pale beige and warm ochre tones of the architecture are enlivened by the play of sunlight and shade, while a bright sky of soft blues and warm pinks crowns the scene with a sense of openness and celebration.

Artistic Qualities:
Medium: Oil on canvas
Technique: Painted from life (en plein air)
Palette: Vivid spring greens, glowing yellows, warm earth tones, pale architectural hues, and cool blues
Brushwork: Expressive and varied — from thin, calligraphic strokes for the willow leaves to bold, sculptural strokes in the trees and streambed
Mood: Vibrant, joyful, and lyrical

"Spring Cut-Outs" is a poetic reflection on the awakening of nature and the layered beauty of Chernihiv’s historical landscape. The painting weaves together organic elements and architectural structures through a natural “cut-out” of willow foliage, merging tradition, place, and season. With this composition, Vyacheslav Onyshchenko offers a vivid sensory experience of springtime — one that honors both cultural memory and the fleeting vitality of the present moment.

Materials used:

oil on canvas

Tags:

#landscape #church #trees #spring #impressionism #stream #town #impressionistic #plein air #professional painting #pleinair #small river