I rarely do a second version of a painting’s composition. I know the skill-increase potential of repainting the same compostion over and over; but I usually feel time is too short to spend on only one scene. See my first painting attempt. This one is larger, and the composition allows space for the whole intended scene: the full tree shows in the Everglades‘ waters. The more I looked at the original composition, the more restless I got that only part of the tree showed in the water. I knew my original photograph included the whole tree, and that is indeed what caught my attention when airboating past this scene. It’s not unusual for me to crop my compositions too tight on my canvas. This time, I knew I would only be happy if I redid the composition with room to breathe. I also used my artistic license to include two Egrets and some overhead birds for those looking closely at the painting. The birds are so present in the Everglades it is a natural inclusion. I left out the vultures resting in the tree tops; just too eerie for my purpose of this piece. 18″x24″ acrylic. Copyright 2025 Pamela Breitberg
