Among some horses, figures in the city and a museum patron or two, I worked on these "vignettes" as an exercise. The subject was a rather nicely composed scene of South Street near the Brooklyn Bridge. This photo really lent itself to breaking it up into big blocks of values. This first one I intended to be a vignette, but it turned out rather mundane and typical. I got into too many details and lost focus. Imagine that.
6x8 oil on panel
So I did the scene again in just 4 values using mars black.
6x8 oil on panel
I liked that so well, I thought I'd lighten up and do it in a "high key" and really liked that. It taught me so much about cityscapes. Street scenes are so busy and colorful that it can be hard to avoid details and making a patchwork quilt (see above!) By reducing my values to large masses I was able to leave out all non-essentials and create an impression that conveys the mood of the city without belaboring it with tons of signage and competing facades.
6x8 oil on panel
le image
Note to self: Start looser from the beginning!
6 comments:
Nicely done!! 'Love the simplified pieces.
thanks for posting these - I learned alot from looking at them as well.
You totally blow me away with your talent! I admire your disapline and drive to paint each day...I can get so distracted with my writing then, I don't paint. Practice makes perfect...and you sure are gifted!
Wow... it is so interesting to see all the different versions you did on these studies...
I so admire you and am glad you had a great time doing it.
Fabulous workmanship. Reminds me of the old elevated train line near my grandparents' apartment in the Bronx. Haven't thought of that in years. Is this location in Austin? (If so, I need to get out more....)
Thanks all! I think this simplification might have helped me work on city scenes. We shall see!
I really appreciate your comments - especially coming from accomplished artists whom I admire!
Kristine - this is in NYC. Not Austin. Its an underpass along the East River.
Post a Comment