My eye has always been drawn to the stunning flowering dogwood varieties sometimes found in neighbourhoods throughout southern Ontario. During their ‘blooming’ season, one cannot ignore the outstanding display of brilliant white tips that grace each branch. While generally perceived as the tree’s flowers, they are in reality, white-coloured leaves, or bracts as they are known. On dogwoods, they surround the actual flowers which are very small yellow clusters. No matter how the observer perceives these magnificent varieties and their stunning display on residential properties, we must still remember that there is also a rare and striking native dogwood that is endangered in Ontario.

And so, the concept of ‘White Shadows Of Darkness’ began…
 
In continuing with my ‘Darkness’ series, I wanted to create something a little different – a new dimension with my artwork as it were. While a few of my pieces are designed board on board with the bottom board painted in one solid colour, with this new piece I chose to extend the painting to encompass both cradled boards, but in a transitional fashion that would become quite unique. That is, full colour on the centre raised feature then transitioning to grey tones on the lower portion. The grey tones within the branches, leaves and bracts also transition from light in the central area to very dark on the outer most portion of the circle, as does the multi-tone background. Below follows the process of this unique painting.