Hello everyone! Here’s my oil-on-canvas painting of my mini painting as entry to CollabCards’ art contest last year.

I did promised to create the painting on canvas, took me a bit longer than I intended, but here is it finally. I indeed changed the visual as I painted on, so it’s not am exact recreation of the initial, and I really love this one. It’s in a really cool size of 2ft x 3ft, took me 5 days to paint, and I titled it Paradox Of Abundance. 

So, what happens when the very thing that gives life also brings destruction?

In this painting, the serene yet haunting landscape tells a story of quiet resilience. The water—once the tree’s source of nourishment—has now become its silent antagonist, rising against it, slowly drowning its roots. It once fed the tree, sustained its growth, and gave it life. Yet now, in excess, it suffocates, weakens, and threatens to erase it. This reflects a profound truth: abundance, when unchecked or abused, can turn against us.

Despite its silent agony, the tree stands strong, unyielding. Its branches, though bare, remain open, providing shelter to the birds—some resting on its limbs, others soaring towards it from the distance, drawn to its presence. Even in its suffering, the tree does not cease to give, protect, and inspire.

Now, how often do we see people consumed by their own blessings? Wealth, power, and comfort—things meant to elevate us—can become our downfall when taken without caution. Just like the tree, we sometimes forget that what nourishes us can also destroy us if we lose balance. Addiction, greed, toxic relationships—excess in any form can be self-destructive.

But what defines us is not just our suffering; it is how we choose to endure and give back despite our struggles. The tree, though drowning, still serves a purpose. Like a parent sacrificing for their children, or a dreamer pushing forward despite hardship, it continues to reach for the sky—a symbol of hope, resilience, and silent strength.

Even in adversity, the tree teaches us a profound lesson: we can still be a source of light to others, even when we are struggling in the shadows. In a world of fleeting abundance, true beauty lies in endurance, in the silent strength to give, to stand firm, and to reach for something greater.

Overall, the composition blends warm and cool tones, creating a delicate contrast between hope and struggle. The golden hues of the sunset dissolve into soft blues, reflecting both the tree’s endurance and the quiet encroachment of its suffering. The peaceful expanse of water mirrors the sky, creating a sense of harmony, yet beneath this tranquility lies an unsettling reality—the tree is trapped in a battle with the very element that once sustained it.

The mountains, sky, and tree together embody the wisdom of nature. They reflect the interconnectedness of all things, reminding viewers to slow down and appreciate the beauty oft he present moment.

Thank you for reading this far. I hope this teaches a very profitable lesson, in a world of greed self-centredness as ours.