Friday, May 13, 2011

Developing a big idea

48 x 48, pastel on prepared panel

As the afternoon wound down and the sun dropped into the western sky, I watched the fog bank form. At first, small wisps of lavender and cerulean. Then more blocks of gray. French gray. Cool gray. Blue gray. Flat gray. All blending together into what looked like a massive wall. 
I watched as the sun, moving ever westward in its arc, touched the edge of the fog bank and revealed its lack of substance. Vapors were unable to block the purity of the light.

10 comments:

SamArtDog said...

You're capturing an extraordinarily veiled beauty. The panel's preparation was so worth it!

Jan Yates, SCA, Canada said...

i don't say this often-LOVELOVELOVE IT!!! takes my breath away

Katherine van Schoonhoven said...

Sam: working big is fun but challenging. I have to step back at least 15 feet to really see what I'm doing. Maybe a long stick with a pastel on the end would help. Nah, I'll just wear a path in the floor. Always appreciate your comments.

Katherine van Schoonhoven said...

Jan: thanks! Now the trick will be to not take it too far, but keep it in this moisty state that takes your breath away!

Suzanne said...

What an impressive Fog Bank! How beautiful to see the subtle colors building over the very bright prepared panel. And to know this is on the grand scale!
Congratulation, Katherine.

Celeste Bergin said...

really an interesting interplay between warm and cool! I like the mystery!

Katherine van Schoonhoven said...

Suzanne: the bright underpainting is an interesting foil for the quiet pastel on top. I might have gone too bright for my concept.

Katherine van Schoonhoven said...

Thanks, Celeste!

Ralph said...

What an emotion painting and a wonderful emotive choice of palatte.

Shelley Whiting said...

Wow I love all the textures and layers in this painting. The colors are very rich and juicy. Beautiful work.