Oil on Board, 10" x 24"
I just finished number seven in a series of skyscapes for a show in August when I'll be featured artist at Gallery 9 in Port Townsend, WA. I usually show a variety of work but with the advent of spring and now summer, my eyes have been cast heavenward at the spectacular show of clouds we've been enjoying over our waters and mountains here.
I've also been trying to master the technique of glazing the difficult colors that emerge in sunsets. Pigment, unlike light, is a gross substance. It doesn't do what light does and although nature can get away with very intense color, when an artist does it, it can come out positively garish. Also, in order to get the ethereal effects of rim light on a cloud, I'm forced to change the colors that nature displays. For instance, I have to add small amounts of yellow to my whites in order to make them brighter and cast violet into the areas around the cloud so that when I glaze them later, the blue areas around the clouds don't turn green. It's a tricky thing. But very satisfying when it comes out right.
I now have about nine paintings for this show and I'm fairly satisfied with the results. Still have one on the easel I'm toying with but I should work out the problems fairly soon and then be done with the piece. Frames ordered. Now to move on to other things.
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