Jean Lang

“On the Lower Wisconsin”, acrylic

Aaron & Ruth Bohrod Memorial Award

The Lower Wisconsin River with its sandbars and islands is an intriguing and attractive landscape and one that I’ve always wanted to paint. But to paint this kind of “across the river” scene normally means struggling with multiple bands of strong horizontal elements (water, sky, tree line) that race to lead your eye off the canvas – not a desirable effect in a painting. On this particular evening, however, the clouds created beautiful diagonals and colorful reflections that brought the scene together in a way that entertains and holds the eye.