When I first met and fell in love — artistically speaking — with tonalist George Inness, it was his painting Home of the Heron that captured my heart. Although it’s a simple painting — most tonalist paintings are simple compositions — and although the color palette was minimal — another element of tonalism — Home of the Heron spoke to me in a gentle, quiet, captivating voice.

As I put together the paintings I’d be using as inspiration for my 31-day “index card” study of tonalist art, I hesitated over Home of the Heron. I could never do it justice, of course, so why include it? On the other hand, since this one painting in particular is what drew me to George Inness and tonalism, why not include it and give it a go?

As you can see, I did include it, and while I didn’t do it…