The tree in early spring (The Gaza field in Karlovac) en plein air 1995

Alfred Freddy Krupa made this small oil painting, The tree in early spring, en plein air, which means outside, probably right there in the Gaza field in Karlovac. The painting is made up of these brushy strokes, scumbles of blues and browns. I bet Krupa stood there, squinting, trying to get the light just so, right before the leaves pop. You know, that weird, almost melancholic feeling of early spring. I can almost feel the chill. The paint looks thin in places, like he was really trying to capture the light, the feel of the place. Look at the way he’s dragged the brush to make the tree branches. Quick, but sure. It reminds me of Fairfield Porter, that kind of everyday looking scene, but painted with such care that it makes you stop and notice. It’s like he’s saying, "Hey, look at this! Isn’t it something?" Painting is just like talking, an ongoing conversation, and we are all learning from each other, one painting at a time.