“Clouds over a California hillside,” a creation by artist Xavier Martinez, exemplifies the Tonalism art movement. This landscape and cloudscape painting features a serene, moody depiction of a California hillside under a vast sky.
In the artwork, smooth rolling hills stretch outward, covered in muted tones of earthy browns and greens. The expansive sky above is dominated by soft, billowy clouds rendered in gentle shades of white and cream. These clouds create a harmonious contrast with the subtle yet dynamic landscape below. The overall mood is contemplative, evoking a sense of calm and tranquility often associated with the Tonalism movement, which emphasizes the use of atmospheric effects to convey emotion.