Whirl

Whirl

48" x 60" x 3" Oil on Heavy Duty Gallery Wrap Canvas

Contemporary Abstract

Starting with a toned canvas of rubin, alizarin and transparent orange, I let the canvas sit in the studio for weeks.  I would look at the vibrant rose colored canvas and really wasn't sure what I was going to paint.  One day I was in the mood for something different, so I pulled a sea shell that John and I picked up on the beach several years ago, then drew the shapes of the shell on the canvas, blindfolded.  I focused on the details of the shell, the shapes and the lines.  Transferring what I saw in the 4 or 5 inch shell onto the 4 foot by 5 foot canvas was interesting.

I started to draw and paint with a large brush some of the shapes.  I pulled out my palette knife, rubber tools, and oil sticks.  I wanted to allow the underpainting to show through on some of the canvas.  I did get carried away with magenta at one stage, and had to scrap it all off.  I allowed some of the thin paint to drip, but not too much.  If you look up close you can see some details that are very interesting, and in contrast to some of the larger, simple shapes.  I wanted the color palette to be soft and harmonious.  I mixed and mixed my colors.  Nothing straight out of the tube.  One of the last things I did on this painting was go back into the wet paint with charcoal to give it some variety and detail.  

This painting is drying in the studio.  It is ready for a new home once it is varnished.  Framing is optional, as the sides of the canvas are painted a medium Portland grey.  Thank you for looking at my blog...Have an artful day.  Kay