The beginning of summer (2015)Oil painting by Elena Sanina

Scenic the author's study Sunny summer day.
The oil painting captures a serene summer landscape centered around a gently flowing river. The composition draws the viewer’s eye along the water’s meandering path, creating a sense of peaceful continuity.
In the foreground, the riverbank is adorned with lush greenery — vibrant green grasses and wildflowers in soft hues of yellow and white. A few graceful reeds sway slightly at the water’s edge, their reflections shimmering on the surface. The river itself is rendered with delicate brushstrokes, showing subtle ripples that catch the sunlight. The water displays a rich palette of blues and greens, with occasional golden highlights where the light breaks through.

Beyond the immediate bank, a line of mature trees provides a natural border. Their leaves — in various shades of emerald and olive green — create a textured canopy that filters the sunlight, casting dappled shadows across the landscape. Some branches extend over the water, their reflections creating intricate patterns on the river’s surface.
The middle ground reveals more of the river’s course, where it widens slightly and reflects the surrounding vegetation with mirror‑like precision. A small, partially submerged rock breaks the water’s surface, adding a natural focal point to the composition.
In the background, the landscape opens up to reveal rolling hills covered in summer foliage. The distant trees are painted with softer, more diffused strokes, creating a sense of depth and atmosphere. The sky above is a clear, pale blue, with just a few wispy white clouds suggesting a warm, tranquil summer day.
The artist has masterfully used light and shadow to convey the heat of the season. Sunlight illuminates certain areas of the grass and tree leaves, while others remain in cool, protective shade. The overall color scheme is dominated by greens and blues, with warm earth tones in the riverbank soil and occasional pops of color from wildflowers.
The painting’s texture is evident in the visible brushstrokes, particularly in the water and foliage, which give the work a lively, tactile quality. The oil medium allows for rich, saturated colors and smooth transitions between tones, perfectly capturing the essence of a quiet summer day by the river.
This work evokes a strong sense of calm and connection with nature, inviting the viewer to imagine the gentle sound of flowing water and the warm summer breeze rustling through the leaves.

Materials used:

oil

Details:

• Oil painting on Canvas
• One of a kind artwork
• Size: 40 x 40cm
• Signed on the front
• Style: Impressionistic
• Subject: Landscapes, sea and sky

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