Valley Ridge 1974

Ivan Eyre made this landscape painting, Valley Ridge, using oil on canvas. At first glance, the painting offers a panoramic view of nature. But a closer look reveals the artist's intensive, detailed way of working. Eyre layers countless tiny strokes of paint, building up the image almost like a mosaic or tapestry. The texture created by this process is key. The density of the paint application gives the scene an almost palpable quality, heightening the contrast between the lush foliage in the foreground, the sparse trees, and the distant hills. The labor-intensive technique encourages contemplation; in our age of mass production, this painting invites us to consider the value of slowing down, observing carefully, and engaging with the world around us in a more thoughtful way. Eyre's painstaking method emphasizes the hand-made, bridging the gap between fine art and the traditions of craft.