Stoke Poges Church

Stoke Poges Church (Constable)

Whispers of twilight in hues of rose,
A quiet churchyard where mystery flows.
The spire points to heavens, trees bow with grace,
Time stands still in this ethereal place.

This oil on canvas captures the romantic spirit of John Constable, blending realism with a poetic atmosphere. Layers of soft brushwork create depth and mood, while the choice of a pink and purple palette adds an emotive, almost dreamlike quality. The composition’s balance between the architectural focus of the church and the natural elements evokes harmony, reminiscent of 19th-century English landscape painting

Artist’s Note
*Stoke Poges* marks a significant milestone in my artistic journey—it was the very first painting I ever executed in oils, sometime in the mid-1970s. The work was inspired by a small, hauntingly atmospheric image nestled within the pages of a children’s encyclopedia I treasured in my youth. That modest illustration sparked something within me, and decades later, I felt compelled to reinterpret it on canvas with greater emotion and depth. Though simple in origin, this painting remains a sentimental cornerstone of my creative development.