Valoy Eaton (American, 1938)
Tree Row, 1972
Oil on masonite
13 1/2 × 18 in.
A row of deciduous trees, caught in late-season color, forms the structural core of this landscape. Eaton emphasizes vertical rhythm, setting dark trunks and branching limbs against bright, broken passages of yellow foliage. The foreground is worked with energetic strokes that suggest grass and shadow, while the middle distance opens into a sunlit band of field and low hills beyond. Rather than describing every detail, the painting relies on contrasts of value and color temperature to convey depth and time of day. The result is both immediate and composed, a study of autumn light shaped by confident, economical handling.
Valoy Eaton is an American painter known for landscape subjects that favor clear design and direct responsiveness to place. In Tree Row, his approach balances observation with simplification, using repeated forms and a limited, resonant palette to organize the scene. The work reflects a regional tradition of plein-air painting translated into a studio-ready composition, where natural motifs become vehicles for exploring structure, light, and seasonal atmosphere.
