Fred Machetanz’s artistic paintings reflect exactly what I love about Alaskan paintings. He is able to capture moments that he sees in the wilderness in many of his different paintings. This painting Breaking Trail was painted in 1976, and portrays a musher on a cold Alaskan day breaking trail.
In this painting particularly, Fred is able to use various art elements to convey emotions through his art. Three of the major art elements that first come to my mind when I view this painting are his use of tone, color, and natural patterns. I first recognized his use of tone when observing the light colors that are used to symbolize how cold the temperature is in this picture, and makes you want to shiver even looking at the picture. To me, the lighter colors also give the painting an illusion of a nice peaceful, natural environment. The colors element is also supportive of this idea of peace and quiet, but it also adds depth when contrasting the darker tree-line with the lighter colored mountain in the background. Finally, Fred uses natural patterns in the grass on the horizon and the footprints behind the musher to relay natural movement and a sense of harmony.
AKHeather. “Alaska in All Her Splendid Glory.” WordPress. N.p., 17 Nov. 2012. Web.
https://akheather.wordpress.com/2012/11/17/46/
SRS Alaska 
I love this painting. Looking at this painting takes me back to Kotzebue watching the mushers during the winter as they train. I love the colors he has used too. I agree with you on how the light color symbolizes the temperature. It brings me back to winter in Kotzebue and cold it can get. Just thinking about it now I am able to feel the wind blowing. The pattern he uses is amazing when it comes to the musher’s footprints making it look so real.
LikeLike
Hey, I really like this choice of painting. I feel that the colors and tone of this painting really portray a positive, fresh, and crisp spring day. You kind of get a feeling and sense of emotion from this painting and how the setting felt. I also really like how its kind of a “behind the scenes” painting from a look behind the sled, you sort of feel like you are there mushing along with him.
LikeLike
Hi, Stephen!
I love that you chose an Alaskan painting. It makes me want to move back to Alaska already. I tried to analyze this myself, before reading your analysis. The first feature I noticed was the contrasting dark green trees against the rest of lighter whites and blues in the painting; so I definitely agree with you there. The last feature I noticed was the mountain. I still can’t tell if that’s because of the brightness on my computer (haha) or a technique used by Machetanz. Either way, I definitely think it adds balance to the piece. If there were just clouds or birds in the sky, I feel the painting would feel off. Lastly, I can really appreciate how you noticed,”Fred uses natural patterns in the grass on the horizon and the footprints behind the musher to relay natural movement and a sense of harmony”. The organic, flowing shape of the hill definitely adds a sense of harmony. I would have missed that had you not pointed it out.
Thanks for the share!
LikeLike