Tor-Arne Moen painting birches

During spring 2024 I spent some time painting birch trees. This is a small film from the process.
***
The film is an "artist in studio" attempt to show most of the process painting a large scale painting.
The artist thoughts on this series of birch trees:
"I have to admit that I rarely understand what the topics for my exhibitions are really about until all the works for the exhibition are finished. If I go in a new direction thematically and painterly, I don't always know why (apart from the fact that I probably feel quite finished painting with the previous theme for a while).
As I see this collection of my new paintings, they are probably about the nature around us and human domestication of it. Like the chainsaws on the pedestals are called: "Tredreper" ("Tree killer") I, II and III. In these paintings the birches roots don't show, nor the treetops. They are seen in section straight from the side, as in an exhibition. Behind the trees, more or less monochrome surfaces are seen, as if the trees, and the few animals among them, are trapped in a narrow strip in a man-made space.
I myself have spent much of my time hunting, fishing, gathering berries and mushrooms - and trees - gathering from what I until recently thought was reaping from abundance. It is no longer like that, I have put the gun aside. Nature is being destroyed by the minute, the wild animals go extinct, the seas are fished out and on the brink of ecological collapse.
I hope I have not painted the last forest, or and last wild animals, but I would like to show my depiction of them, point to them, study them, see how beautiful they are, as long as they are still here."
-Tor-Arne Moen, 2024
***
Tor-Arne Moen (1966) is a Norwegian painter, printmaker and author. He lives and works in Notodden (Telemark), Norway. He was educated at the Bergen National Academy of the Arts (1988-94).
The artist is recognizable by his high-powered figurative technique with heavily painted surfaces consisting of coarse and thick brushstrokes made with varying brush widths, in layer upon layer. He uses a mix of oil-paint and egg-oil tempera, an old technique based on an emulsifying binder. Emulsion is a mixture of two substances which initially cannot be mixed, in this case oil and water. The egg is added as the emulsifier, which allows oil and water to mix. The word tempera refers to the actual painting technique and was used by the masters since Medieval times. While the tempera is often applied in thin layers, Moen uses it with oil-paint, and in generous amounts, in order to get the creamy texture, and set the brushstrokes in relief to the canvas.
Moen usually works in series over a topic that can occupy him for several years, before changing his theme and style, seeking new angles into his painterly excavations.
Tor-Arne Moen is represented by many renowned galleries all over Norway and by RJD Gallery in the USA. His works are acquired by art collectors both nationally and internationally.
***
Although Moen has claimed that "the motif is just an excuse to paint", his paintings leaves the spectator with space to interpret, and are often highly imaginative and with stories to tell.
***
(Comment in English by Galleri Grette)

[@tedbomba6631]

Thanks for showing the steps you use to capture the beauty of Nature and transfer it onto canvas, thus bringing that natural beauty indoors to be enjoyed in comfort.

[@MarianneWittmannMager]

Danke, Sie teilen den Mal - Schaffens - Prozess. Sehr schöne Arbeit. Birken sind wunderschöne Bäume und weit verbreitet in Mittel, Nord - Osteuropa. Ihre Verwandlung, ihr Leben mit dem Wechsel der Jahreszeiten ist für den Betrachter ein universelles Thema des Lebens, ein Symbol. Werden, Wachsen, Erblühen in Schönheit, Früchte tragen und Vergehen. Der Frühling ist das Symbol der Hoffnung....das Leben geht immer weiter.😅😊 viele Grüße aus Hessen, mitten in Deutschland...

[@diyorki-fz9oh]

Oh, man!.. (buddy) You are a real artist.!

[@logancain3030]

I'm an artist my self! I love this. This was a peaceful video to watch. Keep on doing what you're doing! ❤

[@helenriley769]

Love this work … amazing.

[@elviralastra6464]

I like your work very much! I love painting but I would need a teacher like you. Thanks for sharing. The best wishes for you.

[@enzo-vx3ny]

Sei un grande !! tecnica favolosa, strepitosa padronanza del colore .... woooow Tor !!!!

[@HelmarReichhart]

Was führ ein genialer Künstler........

[@RedcoatsReturn]

Fascinating 😲 Beautiful natural colours and patterns around us in the woods….you captured those wonderful moments….on canvas 👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏😊👍👍

[@chompers11]

Amazing work I love watching you paint

[@just-anillusion5893]

Thank you for your extraordinary view on and magical painting of birches! I love this❤

[@user-pk1pc8to3w]

same here. and I will never see the birch tree in the same way

[@MA_RUNA]

I admire your work sir! Very unusual and realistic! My respect 🙏😊🌳☀️

[@SMOENOVA]

very cool video. love the chilled vibe

[@christelleporiau2491]

C’est sublime….j’aime les arbres et votre façon de travailler les couleurs est très inspirante. Merci❤

[@nicolefaubert8147]

Magnifique, talent extraordinaire!

[@jeanriff7954]

Bravo tore arn moen c est super .❤

[@judithmalan1502]

Such serenity

[@allegro_manontroppo]

wow, really an elegant work.

[@manuelabeas3720]

Fantástico trabajo genial genial

[@BurceMiller]

Прекрасные берёзки ❤ это восхитительно

[@sandralilianaardilagonzale4708]

Muy bello paisaje de árboles que parecen vivos

[@elianaqvi2880]

Beautiful depiction of nature 🌿

[@tylero8595]

I like your chairs.

[@AyushRaj-n5h]

Sir your painting is very beautiful really admired it.😊🙏🙏

[@inh.e.r9864]

Thank you for sharing. I really love it ❤️

[@barbaraknowles1275]

Beautiful

[@ZeroFxGvn]

Pretty amazing!

[@carlkligerman1981]

Beautiful piece

[@Sirlene-et9ut]

Wow!!!!❤

[@rcartecorpus]

Beautiful 🤗❤

[@S452z]

Wunderbare Dokumentation ❤

[@Hasanwiqar]

outstanding work

[@kapillakhera5757]

🎨☃️

[@juliopuerto5056]

Genial Artista 🎨

[@МихаилКрылов-э3р]

Не преувеличивай. Хотя.... У каждого свое мнение....

[@selgalouis1033]

Verry good!!!

[@aleli5105]

Sicaru❤

[@toddsnyder3318]

The line quality reminds me of Klimt or Shiele .

[@marijasimic689]

👌👍

[@felice9907]

there is a raven watching your steps, in the woods and around the house .... . perhaps he would like to be "in the picture" ;-))

[@socratesonxu7286]

👍👍👍

[@maestro_ignatyev]

От деревьев тебе привет, вернётся по многу и многу. Так тому и быть на суд земли Родной. ИХ сок ценнее твоей крови

[@DanielLopes-jt8yl]

How long before the age of absurdity ends? As we can over paint something we can over think it as well. It’s curious thing to see how deeply we become involved with our process.

[@MichelHubert-ff8kq]

Bon bouleaux...

[@karmadekjiesakentaur5131]

Genious!

[@darinamikulova]

👍👏👏👏♥️

[@Qwijebo]

Fantasique!

[@notumbusbumbus3871]

Where are the rabbit tracks?

[@ninaplepiene5219]

I feel sorry for the trees

[@anieste]

I also...why couldn't he use a photograph from different angles...ooo...he needed wood to stay warm...

[@nayelichavezterreros598]

Me too

[@Jackie.Lee.Art.2491]

Imagine if we all started cutting down trees just to paint them, instead of doing that outside.

[@janecooke9151]

@@Jackie.Lee.Art.2491I know, imagine if we started cutting down trees to make way for wind turbines, Oh we already are, in Scotland, approximately 16 million chopped and still counting!

[@JC-oz6xn]

In the time it took to read this new trees have sprouted and are growing....

[@impulzive]

"Faen!" xD xD xD Superkule bilder!

[@МарияСмурова-ъ3ф]

💓👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏

[@UmaAuroville]

🥰🥰🥰

[@carmelocaatrad6691]

Precioso

[@Ermuggo]

average birch enjoyer

[@DavidTa2]

Painting in silence is absolutely psychotic 😆

[@tonymarqu3z]

Muy bueno... ¶™🇨🇴

[@virginiaspalter1145]

why did you. have to cut down and kill the tree to capture it's beauty

[@PetaWilliams-j3u]

I wouldn't cut up live trees instead of dead ones.

[@soler6051]

No se coran los arboles y tan hermosos que los pintas, entonces se contradice te parecen bellos y los matas????

[@姚軍-p2y]

[@michaelschulz7477]

Ich geh jetzt in den Birkenwald, denn meine Pillen wirken bald. M.K.

[@Wolfgang-p1i]

🤦🏻

[@3monet]

No cortes árboles. Si siembra árboles.

[@donaldcatton4028]

I gotsta get suspenders to real arty it up…

[@maestro_ignatyev]

Срубил живые деревья их убил, чтобы понты на камеру заснять.

[@Wolfgang-p1i]

🥱🥱🥱

[@janetmorgan876]

idiotic remark

[@maestro_ignatyev]

@@janetmorgan876 дерево он убил ~ оно живое было и красивое. ЭТО правда

[@maestro_ignatyev]

@@janetmorgan876 у него был шанс, подойти И с натуры рисовать дерево Не обижать деревья.

[@사사-e2v]

섹시

[@elizagooler-5889]

Yes ,Shame on you to cut so much. You could have worked from a fotograph.

[@JaroAvdis]

....i daj się portretować...

[@maestro_ignatyev]

Можешь убрать комментарий, но поступок видит Бог )))

[@Wolfgang-p1i]

😂😂😂😂😂😂😂