Flume and Falls

"Flume and Falls" - oil on gallery wrapped canvas, 30" x 40"  Ready to hang.  Available here and at Artfinder

It was FIRSTS week here in the studio!  The FIRST super large oil painting and the FIRST process video by my amazing intern, Fiona (who single-handedly slayed the tech aspect of this internship in one afternoon.  Woot!)  Thanks to many reader requests for more "in process" peeks, we're going to keep working on videography over here in upcoming weeks.

This piece began as an acrylic underpainting in bold colors.  Acrylic paints don't require as much manipulating and massaging as the oils, so the underpainting allows me to get the basic composition and colors down without a ton of upper body work (which my still healing spine very much dislikes).  After that, several layers of thinned oil paint to soften, provide haze and deepen the color layers and texture.  The final touch, as depicted in the video, is to come back into the painting with oil pastels to amp up the color and contrast, then blend with a brush loaded with Liquin  and soften with rags and a squeegee.

This piece, as with the "Bridal Veil painting posted earlier in the week, was inspired by a hike through the gorge and the drama of high cliffs, tall trees and rushing water.  The gorge, still untamed despite civilization all around, immediately captures your senses with its high winds, massive rocks and cold, deep rushing water.  

Weather in the gorge varies wildly from the surrounding communities. Like an ancient beast bellowing its independence from the modern world, the gorge winds whip and roar.

Speaking of ancient beasts, my intern, in an attempt to modernize me, insists on another GIVEAWAY!  

If you're reading this blog and are not a subscriber, sign up (right column under "Subscribe to My Blog Posts") and you'll be entered in a drawing for a high quality giclee print!  If you are already a subscriber, share this blog with others on Facebook and tag me to be entered as well.  If you newly subscribe AND share on Facebook, your name will be entered twice!  The winner will be announced in next Wednesday's blog post.  Thanks for your support!

Intern and Ancient Beast