Cool and quiet, a body of water rests in the foreground, its shoreline meeting a small town of simple buildings nestled within a swooping grey blue mountain scape. Above the scene is a painted mass of white cloud with streaks of blue sky across the circle of sun. The water only reflects the dark blue of the woods along its right shore, growing off into the distance. Warm colors are painted in the foliage along the water’s right bank, suggesting a season change, leaves turning fall or flowers blooming spring; the orange and gold is applied softly enough it could be either. This work’s limited palette and detail creates a hazy undefinable atmosphere, temperature, and location. The distant church and the adjacent house could almost be cut-outs from the mountains. Baty connects with the viewer with a few human additions; a square brick brown structure, with two windows alight, a distant figure standing beside it, and someone rowing in the water. Baty paints the figure and boat dark, contrasting with the sheer, placid water beneath them.  This landscape has a serene stillness, and the only movement is suggested in the figure’s pointing toward the shore.

October, 2020