Art Gallery

October Sky

Skyscapes are always interesting to paint. And challenging, if for no other reason than that open horizon vistas are harder and harder to find. I solve this problem by using a painting platform in my backyard that gets me 8' up in the air and therefore above the man-made clutter that blocks my view of the horizon.

The skies of autumn are notoriously changeable. From a painters point of view this creates inherent difficulties. I get around it by painting as quickly as I can, using very large brushes and sweeping, open arm gestures to layer and blend colors. October Sky is a classic skyscape that is focused entirely on the high, constantly re-forming clouds. There is a left-to-right sweep achieve by allowing the tree-line and clouds to form open "V's" pointed in that direction. This adds motion to what would otherwise be a static composition.

I'm especially pleased by the softness of the fall colors and the subtle Titian pinks and lavenders brushed over the clouds. I lost the light while finishing this piece as dusk encroached, but by then I had what I wanted: the first blush of sunset.

Price upon request.

bertgrrrl@yahoo.com

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