At the Bluff

Tall trees and lush undergrowth frame a glimpse of Lake Michigan in this acrylic plein air painting. Sunlit greens and deep shadows capture the bluff’s natural beauty.

At the Bluff captures the lush summer growth above Lake Michigan, where tall trees rise over a sunlit sweep of grass and dense underbrush. Judith Reidy places the viewer within the shelter of the trees, looking toward a small opening of pale blue water in the distance. The lake remains a quiet presence beyond the greenery, giving the scene a sense of depth and discovery.

Deep green foliage gathers around warm brown and violet tree trunks, while yellow-green highlights brighten the canopy. Broad, expressive marks suggest leaves and branches without describing each one individually. In the foreground, pale cream touches and warm ochre mingle with darker greens, creating the lively texture of plants growing along the bluff. The light grass at the left offers an open counterpoint to the richly layered vegetation at the right.

The vertical composition follows the trees upward into a softly painted sky. Its changing greens and contrasts of light and shade evoke the feeling of pausing along a wooded lakeshore on a warm day. This plein air landscape brings together the intimacy of a sheltered viewpoint and the spaciousness of the water beyond, offering details to enjoy both from across a room and at close range.

Media: Acrylic
Size: 12 x 16”
Unframed but with a block with a keyhole hanger that is easily hung on a nail or screw on the wall.