Saturday, November 14, 2009




One day this past week I was working on the computer when the power went out; I decided to lay in an underpainting instead. I opened the blinds as far as they would go on a darkish rainy day. I laid in the entire underpainting; the power came back on, and I realized that I had the values down perfect but some of the most bizarre colors I have ever mixed. The biggest challenge in this piece was trying to get the colors toned down to neutral as I had the light where I wanted it. Finally succeeded! This is not the most flattering picture of this piece as I took it at night and was relying on artificial light.

The subject matter is from LaPush Washington. Record waves that day; there was an atavistic component to my emotions that I was wanted to capture with this artwork. LaPush is on a rough edge of the Pacific, a small town, the home of the Quileute Tribe. Typical little box houses you see on so many reservations; this little village huddled on the edge of nowhere. It is hard to imagine life in this small town during the storms of winter. The title is "We Begin To Remember." It is 36x60" in size on canvas.

2 comments:

melissa said...

I think you captured it perfectly!

Unknown said...

Wow--very cool. I always think underpaintings look bizarre anyway, but this one came a long way to the finish line! Nice job (as always!).