Transcendence
A few weeks ago I published a post on a drawing called “Celestial Forest“. I loved working on the drawing so much that when I finished it I knew I had to make a considerably larger version for my April 2023 exhibition.
“Celestial Forest” had been composed from the left side of a photo I had taken at Donnelly River in June. For “Transcendence” I worked from the whole photo.
“Transcendence” reminds me of Jackson Pollock’s abstract expressionist painting “Blue Poles”. However in my abstract realist drawing the verticals are (thankfully) not poles, but living trees.
As I stood in that patch of forest I was so moved by the sunlight filtering through the trees that it felt like a divine experience… as if I were inside a prayer. The interplay of light, wet leaves and branches became a kind of moving leadlight.
What was a word to describe this? It was Matthew who came up with my title. “Transcendence”, he said, and I knew that he was right.
I did not want to compare “Transcendence” with “Celestial Forest” so I waited until the latter had gone to its new home before putting final touches on the former.
Julie Podstolski - Abstract Realism 
Stunning.
Hi Sue, and thanks for your feedback!
I just love this piece. Just looking at it makes me feel calm, the world is a better place. Transcendence is the perfect title.
Thanks Anna. Sometimes having two brains working on a title is better than one brain.
What a lovely soft drawing , Julie ! It certainly gives a feeling of peace and beauty — can’t really say the same about ‘Blue Poles ‘ !
I am so looking forward to a bit of a sojourn in nature , I can almost smell the forest already .
Judy .
No, “Blue Poles” came from a man who was an alcoholic and a mental case so no wonder you don’t get a feeling of peace and beauty from it.
Please have your sojourn in nature soon – and I hope you’ll have nice weather.