Welcome back, paint fans. I’m going to wuss out this week and continue with our ongoing work in progress for next week. (That’s right, I’m a tempermental artist and was not in an appropriate frame of mind to continue/finish the street scene right now. Moodiness is good thing for an artist, right?) For this week I will examine another of my past works.
The photo shows a work I did from photos taken during one of my many trips to the four corners area of the southwest. (The region where the borders of four states meet: New Mexico, Arizona, Utah and Colorado.) This scene is in Monument Valley, a Navajo tribal park on the Utah/Arizona border. (It is a must-see for visitors to the area.) I believe that this is the 3 Sisters formation, named for the 3 vertical rocks at the center.
This canvas is unusual in its measurements. It measures 8×16, perfect for scenes such as this. It allows for a panoramic landscape. I actually purchased it off the shelf, it was not a custom size. If you are able to find any of these canvases, I highly recommend purchasing a couple for landscape purposes. (Also, kindly let me know where they can be had, I could use some!) Accordingly, the frame is the same unusual shape, constructed of off the shelf oak frame sides available at many craft stores. After purchasing two sides each of the required sizes, the sides are attached together at the corners with the brackets provided. I’m actually in the process of getting a new custom-made frame from http://www.pleinairframes.com/ I can recommend this company from my past purchases. The new frame will greatly enhance the painting.
Monument Valley is truly awe-inpiring. The many buttes are remnants of an ancient landscape since worn down to produce the present scenery. Many famous photos and movies have been shot there, including at least one by Director John Ford. I took many photos that will be used in my paintings in the years to come. The long vistas in the valley are amazing. (I’m from the northeast and rarely have an opportunity to see all the way to the horizon.) Tours are available by local Navajo guides or one can do a less comprehensive self-guided trek.
The painting is composed of very thin layers of paint. The application of paint here is closer to what would be found in a watercolor. The highlights on the hills behind are almost dribbled on the darker body color. If the paint was any thinner, it would be transparent.
There is a continuity of colors throughout the painting. The gold color appears, at least in flecks of color, all over the painting. It is found in the sky, the highlights on the hills and the foreground. The continuity brings the various parts together, making a unified and harmonious composition. I make a conscious effort to do this to the extent possible.
Notice also how the scene is lit from the left. (It seems that most of my paintings are lit from the left, something I’ve just realized.) The light source is fairly low, afternoon sun producing dramatic shadowing. Also, the painting has a rough left to right orientation. The scrub on the left side are the objects closest to the viewer while the horizon is seen on the upper right. It gives a visual flow to the painting. In a long narrow canvas such as this, it is a serious consideration. Without this flow, the painting would be less easily “digested” by the eye.
I’ve been fairly well pleased with this one, it has been hanging since the time it was completed in August of 2000. (My less successful ones occupy various locations in closets, etc. I am a tough critic. One day, perhaps, I will post one of these for educational and entertainment purposes.)
Next week: The long-awaited <snark> completion of our work in progress.
