Tropical Rainforest comes alive on a wall mural

Tropical Rainforest comes alive on a wall mural

If by imagination alone, the forest would be a fairyland; by biological measure, it is science; by art, it is romantic, realistic, abstract - all combined. And where is its soul, the source of its eternal spring that keeps it living, whole and balance, self regenerating, self regulating?

Composed and painted by Dr Abe V Rotor

Living with Nature - School on Blog

 

Morning sun peeps through a pristine watershed  that feeds this forest stream, 

habitat of resident and migratory birds such as the white heron and mallard duck.  
                       

How little an artist I am to be able to bring home nature, in utmost humility, a little part of creation, the rainforest, the richest of all biomes on earth;

Little do I know the interior of a forest, the throbbing heart of this oldest ecosystem, abode of man before he rose from his humanoid ancestors; 

If by imagination alone, the forest would be a fairyland, by biological measure, it is science; by art, it is romantic, realistic, abstract - all combined; 

And where is its soul, the source of its eternal spring that keeps it living, whole and  balance, self regenerating, self regulating, that I tried to paint;

But poorly my eyes can see, poorly I hear the true song of the creatures, much less their language, poorly I smell the fragrance of earth and flower;

How little, how uncertain I am in capturing the wholeness of my subject, but to compensate it with awe and respect as I paint it on a blank wall;

And if this is prayer, then I would spend hours and hours, without let-up, without boredom, inexhaustible I let flow colors and lines and hues;   

Until the forest takes shape, rising to heaven in many layers and niches, season after season, until it becomes a happy home of a myriad of creatures;

From the lowly to the lofty, the invisible to the giant, the meek to the proud, the weak to the strong, sessile to the mobile - all living in a state of oneness;

It is a mystery: where there is diversity there is union; where there is disagreement there is understanding; where there is discord there is unity;  

The forest is an epitome of such kingdom, a little kingdom in man's standard, wild and rough in his own rules of kindness and beauty, and judgment;

It is a little kingdom on a little wall I found myself painting, my grandchild Marchus by my side, still too young yet pure and free from the bias of man;  

Courage I told myself, a brush on hand, steady now, looked up and an unseen hand took my hand; clearly it is the hand of the Greatest Artist of all. 

   

     

     

     

Details of A Tropical Rainforest Wall Mural (3.5 ft x 15 ft) in acrylic by Dr Abe V Rotor at his residence in Lagro, Block 61 61, Lot 55 (corner Kudyapi St and Lam-ang St)  2015.  The mural is an integral part (3rd panel) of a larger mural (7 ft x 30 ft).   

The mural is made up of  three sections as shown in the above photos: 

• Emergent trees and their tenants (top);
• Exploring a forest stream (middle),
• Food web and energy flow (lowermost)

Among the countless creatures of the tropical rainforest that comprise its rich biodversity are: a rat, giant among its kind in the lowland, lives in a hollow of a tree; boa constrictor adapted to arboreal life, transient gulls adapted to both sea and forest life; tree iguana that branched out of marine igunas, and those that live in dry conditions; chamelion the master of camouflage and mimicry; sloth, mother and young, clinging on a tree motionless and sleeping most of its life.  

 

My grandson, Markus Andrei, 6 months old and Nanny Gelyn Gabao.

Children in a make-believe setting: cool, fresh water flows down a waterfall onto a stream and flaccid pond of lotus and Nymphaea, habitat of freshwater fish, reptiles  and amphibians. 

A bird call echoes through this  thick stand of old trees and saplings

 at the edge of a forest.

 The Forest is a Natural Beauty in acrylic by the author , 2015

"I love the tranquility I feel each time I step into the forest. The forest has a calming and therapeutic effect on me. I enjoy listening to its music – the chirping of the birds, the trickling of water from the leaves, the sound of flowing streams..." - Tan Ee Long, The Forest is a Natural Beauty 

Clouds Over the Mountain in acrylic by the author 2020

“The air up there in the clouds is very pure and fine, bracing and delicious. And why shouldn’t it be?- it is the same the angels breathe.” -  Mark Twain

Lesson: Former Paaralang Bayan sa Himpapawid (People's School-on-Air) with Ms Melly C Tenorio 738 DZRB AM Band, 8 to 9 evening class Monday to Friday