"Soul Traveler" acrylic on wood 18" x 42"
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Project #2:
I worked with acrylic on wood for the second time his year, and I think that I have shown improvement in my ability to use the medium. I worked with applying the paint in thinner layers, and blending with more careful intention. I also worked with value to create a more fervent landscape and a more expressive figure. I always think to Georgia O'Keefe when I do landscapes. To me, her work really reflects the intimate relationships between people and the landscape that surround them. I remember hearing her quoted that she had to live in New Mexico because the mountains have more soul than flatlands or forests do. I think upon this often because I tend to enjoy drawing mountains the most. The piece began with the landscape. I had a clear idea that I wanted red hills under the night sky. As I painted the hills, I felt inclined to shape one of them differently than I had done before, showing where the rock had been shaped by rivers over time. The addition of the figure was an afterthought. I felt very confident doing this piece. The only thing I would change if I could do it again is to let the paint dry overnight before applying the varnish. I had let it sit an hour but a small amount smeared and while I don't dislike it I know will know better in the future. I have chosen to change the direction of my theme, choosing to focus on various archetypes of the "sacred masculine". |