Here comes the next painting in the 10 x 10 collection for Galleri Melefors! This piece is called “Hidden Realms”. This painting was inspired by pictures I took back last fall when mushrooms are abundant here in the forests of Sweden. I felt like I had stumbled into a fairy land as I came across this lichen and moss covered tree stump on our walk.
![Hidden Realms by Christina Rigdeway full oil painting](https://christinaridgewayart.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Hidden-Realms_share-file_-christina-ridgeway.jpg)
I definitely wanted to add some magical toadstool mushrooms into this painting, however I had originally painted them red and found it didn’t mesh at all well with the purpley color palette I wanted to go for!
So I repainted them all purple giving it an extra bit of magic.
![detail hidden realms mushrooms](https://christinaridgewayart.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/detail-hidden-realms-mushrooms.jpg)
This was done with some solid color but alot of glazing as well so you can feel the red peeking through underneath. I don’t think it is any secret that I love the forest. But especially the extra magical forests I am surrounded by now. I think they have always felt like gateways or “hidden realms” just beyond humans every day reach.
![detail hidden realms moss detail of the lichen and tiny mushrooms hidden realms painting](https://christinaridgewayart.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/detail-hidden-realms-moss.jpg)
This painting is full of detail. I’ll never forget that I got covid for the 2nd time while painting this piece and just pushing myself along…every little piece of lichen at a time
The original of this painting is already sold. But I am now selling A3 and A4 sized limited edition prints on my Etsy shop if you’d like to have a copy on your walls!
![detail of moss on tree stump hidden realms painting](https://christinaridgewayart.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/detail-hidden-realms-2.jpg)
Thanks for your support of my work! It means alot! <3 I hope you enjoy this enchanted forest painting!