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Painted in July 2022 during the Between the Bluffs plein air event, International Gardens, La Crosse captures a tranquil moment in one of the city’s most peaceful public spaces. Tucked within Riverside Park along the Mississippi River, the International Friendship Gardens celebrate cultural connection through carefully curated landscapes representing countries like Japan, Germany, China, and Norway.
This 11x14 oil painting depicts a winding garden path framed by summer light, lush greenery, and dappled shade—one of those slow, quiet scenes that invites a breath and a pause. My brushwork here is energetic but grounded, guided by a post-impressionist approach: expressive outlines, vibrant greens and ochres, and layered texture that lets your imagination fill in the story.
I created this piece from a reference photo taken while exploring the gardens with my family. The place struck me not only for its beauty, but for its symbolism. Each section of the garden offers something culturally unique, but they all share the same soil, the same light, the same breeze off the river. It’s a quiet kind of diplomacy—a visual reminder that shared beauty can exist without borders.
Whether you’ve walked these garden paths yourself or simply resonate with the idea of harmony through nature, this painting offers a moment of peace and connection. A scene that doesn’t shout—but gently stays with you.