A friend sent me a group of photos of a marsh in Louisiana where he goes duck hunting, so I did this painting for him. Louisiana has some of the most spectacular landscapes in the country and are among my favorite subjects to paint.
Project Tag: Louisiana
Belle Bayou
This painting, inspired by a John Snell photograph, was featured at Hotel Tango on Virginia Ave., near Fountain Square in Indianapolis on First Friday, September 7, 2018. It is now in my bedroom where I see it first thing every morning and I just can’t sell it!
Crooked Cypress
I’ve mentioned before how much I love Frank Relle’s photographs. This one took my breath away. I was so excited to paint this, and thank you again, Mr. Relle, photographer extraordinaire, for your generosity of spirit!
Bald Cypress, finished and signed!
This painting I’m working on (above) is inspired (again) by a photograph of Frank Relle’s (see below). I did a more impressionistic version of it this time, and changed the colors a little. If you’re ever in New Orleans, you owe it to yourself to check out his gallery on Royal St. After much deliberation and consultation with some of my friends, I decided not to put leaves on my version of it. I like the drama of it. This was a really fun painting to do, and I may do some other impressionistic versions of it before all is said and done. Maybe the next one will have leaves. 
Louisiana Cypress at night
I am thrilled to be able to say that this painting has been accepted for the Indiana Interchurch Center Gallery’s upcoming exhibit of women artists, the theme of which is “Home.” Although I have lived in Indianapolis for nine years now, Louisiana will always represent home to me. This painting, in particular, touches my deepest feelings about Louisiana. The cypress trees found in our bayous and swamps are ancient beauties, with all of the mystery, loneliness and magnificence they portray. The Bald Cypress is so named because although it is a conifer, it drops its leaves early in the fall. There is a photographer in New Orleans named Frank Relle who camps out at night in the swamp in order to take his haunting photographs of Louisiana’s marshlands, which are disappearing rapidly every day. If you are ever in New Orleans, you should definitely stop by his gallery on Royal Street. You will be awed. It was a lovely surprise to receive an email today from Frank saying that he loves my painting.
Sunrise on the Marsh
This is from a photograph sent to me by one of my oldest friends, a New Orleans native who spends every minute he can in the bayous, swamps, marshes and lakes, hunting and fishing. Because this pastime requires early awakening, he is able to get some of the most beautiful shots of very dramatic times of the day. Here is my version of it. It’s now living at his house. I hope his wife likes it!
Pamela O'Brien Art 