Saturday, January 21, 2017

Sunset on the Departing Storm




"Sunset on the Departing Storm"
20” x 16”
Acrylic on Canvas

Some nights it takes longer to get home than others…particularly when there is an amazing sunset and I have to stop multiple times to take photos. This image represents just one short section of the spectacular panorama of sky we had one evening in early fall. After a rumbly storm that was more noise than moisture, the clouds moved east. Father Sun bid them goodbye in a wild array of color.

I’d wanted to paint this image for some time, but ordered myself to finish the two paintings I already had in progress. (I shared those two last week here and here.) Once I put the finishing touches on those, I eagerly broke out a new canvas and went to town—it was a dance—one of those paintings that practically paint themselves. The spirit of the painting gods flowed strong and powerful through me that afternoon. I started and finished within a matter of a few hours.

I wish I could say all paintings come together that easy. Most of the time there’s an element of struggle as I work through the challenges of shape, value, color, and hue. Other times, like this, they are a gift.

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