Severe Heat Wave in the Upper Galilee
Israeli Upper Galilee Severe Heat Wave
Original Fine Art Mixed Media & Pastel • Upper Galilee Series
🎨 Artwork Specifications & Curation
| Title: | Severe Heat Wave in the Upper Galilee |
| Medium: | Pastel Drawing over Watercolor Underpainting on Paper |
| Dimensions: | 8.75 × 5.25 inches |
| Creative Context: | Improvisational Plein-Air Study, Thermal Atmosphere, Experiential Abstraction |
“I stopped on the roadside to capture on paper the feeling of a relentless summer sun beating down. This drawing began its life as a watercolor but I could barely breathe in that dense hazy heat. I felt as though every bit of moisture is being wrenched from my body and from the earth around me. I could not allow myself the luxury of leisurely painting this watercolor and building layer upon layer of loving color, so I took out some pastels and wildly rendered the scene before me. I had to work quickly as you can see from the almost frenzied strokes because I was afraid I would just melt away.”
— Ednah Sarah Schwartz
In this remarkably dynamic mixed-media piece, Ednah Sarah Schwartz delivers an immediate, visceral response to the oppressive microclimates of northern Israel. Severe Heat Wave in the Upper Galilee documents a singular moment where environmental conditions dictated a radical shift in creative strategy. Intended initially as a classic watercolor, the heavy, suffocating atmosphere of a midday thermal block forced Schwartz to pivot, abandoning fluid washes for the rapid, high-friction immediacy of raw pastels.
The resulting work vibrates with a chaotic, frenzied energy that pulls the viewer directly into the roadside environment. Frenetic pastel strokes chop across the underlying paper surface, mimicking the visual distortion of a blinding sun. Brilliant oranges and burning yellows dominate the upper field, radiating light, while dense, deep pigments trace the lower horizon—capturing a parched terrain actively losing its moisture to the sweltering atmospheric pressure.
This composition moves beyond mere geographical representation to function as a direct emotional testament to the raw, untamed power of the Levantine climate. By utilizing an improvisational plein-air approach, Schwartz captures the fleeting, volatile essence of the midday heat before it could dissipate, using texturized layers of light and shadow to construct unexpected formal depth within a highly concentrated miniature format.
Ultimately, Severe Heat Wave in the Upper Galilee stands as a striking, deeply autobiographical asset within Schwartz’s landscape portfolio. It celebrates the spontaneous interplay between artist, physical medium, and environment, reminding collectors that profound landscape art is born not just from passive observation, but from a direct, physical encounter with the natural world.
For gallery placement options, regional showcase records, or to view companion plein-air environmental drawings from the Galilee series, please visit the studio contact portal.
