Texture and Colour

Sentinal, 30x24, acrylic

I have been wanting to add more texture and interest to my paintings. I want to enjoy the actual physical quality of the paint and layer and glaze to create more interest in the surface. In this one I toned the canvas with a strong bronzy colour and then built it up using some translucent, opaque and transparent layers. I let a lot of the original colour come through in the rocks. I also built up texture with gel medium. I find that I am excited to try something similar in the next piece, I need to really play around and practice this kind of thing.

I am still here

Distant Shores, 30x40, acrylic

I thought I had better get a post up before everyone starts to think I have quit painting. I seem to have been very distracted lately and also working on some experimental stuff. I would like to get more depth and interest in the paint layers, so I will post anything worthwhile soon. This is a new one, the inspiration came from a hike along the Wild Pacific Trail out of Ucluelet on Vancouver Island. Such powerful stunning wild scenery, a painting could never do it justice. I love to work with a complementary palette, this one being blues and oranges. Unfortunately I just noticed there is some shadowing from the photo in the upper right , oh well you get the idea.

Update

On the Rocks, 40x30, acrylic

Well I couldn't leave the last one alone so I thought I would post the updated version. I am happier with this one. My main aim is to capture a sense of the place and to try to convey the rugged beauty of it. I try to keep in mind the importance of interesting shapes and to keep them as simple as possible. I find it exciting to anticipate the next painting and all the possibilities. This painting on a textured ground was interesting I may play around with it some more.

Struggling

On the Rocks, 40x30, acrylic

I have really struggled with this piece, and  I am still not sure about it. First try I thought I had tightened everything up, it didn't have any panache. I went back in with a bigger brush and loosened up the trees and sky. I added texture to the rocks with gel medium, and dry brushed over it. It made for an interesting ground to paint over. I will leave it for awhile and try to come back to it with a fresh eye later. It amazes me how often I can look at a piece I was quite happy with and see all kinds of things I want to change.