The land of the orange tree

The Land of the Orange Tree

Piece description from the artist

My paintings are always inspired by nature which I find very intriguing.
The idea for this surreal painting came from 2 different sources:

1. A long time ago I saw a documentary of a guy who used his savings to buy land to start planting orange trees and make a living. His name was Baldassare Forestiere. After he bought the land he was very frustrated to find out that the soil was not good for planting orange trees. Then he came up with the idea of digging up holes to reach the lower layers where he could find good soil. He dug holes for every orange tree that he was planting. The bottom of each tree was lower than the ground level but the top of the trees would poke out above ground level. Forestiere created an amazing underground world with complex patios, grottoes and garden courts. I always thought this was a fascinating and inspiring story and it’s in my list of places to visit. It is located in Fresno, California and it is open for visitors! This painting is actually very different (visually) from the Forestiere Underground Gardens, but it represents a similar concept of “going beneath the surface to find what you are looking for” per Forestiere’s words, while at the same time it supports my idea of connecting with nature as a way to connect with our inner-selves. I believe that past-present-future are all interconnected and I want to capture this connection as a single moment.

2. I live in a hilly area and my house is located on top of one of the hills. The view from my dining room shows the top of a wooded area as if all that greenery (the top of the trees) was just grass or land where you could just walk right on top and actually reach the other houses located on the hill right across. This view always reminds me of the story above and I had to turn all this into a painting.

Other works by Marlene Llanes

About Marlene Llanes

Austin, TX

Marlene Llanes is a surreal artist who paints intriguing images that evoke a sense of peace. By creating unusual combinations of everyday objects with natural elements, Marlene’s works take the viewer to a grounded fantasy. Her images form meanings for the viewer without being forced upon them. Through the use of light and shadows Marlene creates a sense of depth that draws the viewer into a peaceful dreamlike scene. Her paintings can be very colorful but through the use of contrast Marlene brings simplicity and order.

Marlene has shown her work in numerous exhibits in Texas, Louisiana, and Mexico. She is currently showing one of her pieces at the prestigious People’s Gallery at Austin City Hall, which takes place every year. Two of her works also got accepted at the previous People’s Gallery.

Three of her works are part of permanent public collections. One at the UHCL Pearland Campus and another one at the Savannah College of Art and Design. In 2012 she was invited to Valloria, Italy to paint one of their doors for their Outdoor Museum of the Painted Doors.

Marlene wrote and illustrated the children's book "Paty y los Payasos”, published in 2002 by Los Libros de El Nacional in Venezuela.

Besides working on her surreal paintings Marlene has also worked as a graphic designer and illustrator for newspapers, printing companies, advertising agencies, and publishing companies. Marlene is also passionate about teaching. She has taught college at the Art Institute of Austin and children at Art Plus Academy as well as private lessons to adults.

In 1997 Marlene graduated as a graphic designer from Universidad Vasco de Quiroga in Morelia, Mexico. In 1998 Marlene was awarded a Fulbright Scholarship to study illustration in the USA. She finished her master's degree in Fine Arts (Illustration) at the Savannah College of Art and Design in 2000.

Marlene was born in Morelia, Mexico. She currently lives in Austin, TX. She is a proud dual citizen.

See Marlene's portfolio here
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