Afternoon Oaks, a 36x48 oil painting at Hillary Whitaker Gallery
Today I'm in the studio getting started on a VERY large, commissioned painting for a health care facility. It's on a custom-stretched 36x80 canvas that I primed yesterday. So how do I start such a big piece?
Well, since the subject is a row of gnarly live oak trees in all their mossy glory, I've decided to forego my usual toning-the-canvas-and-wiping technique to create the placement. I'm starting by drawing the trees onto the white canvas, and boy am I enjoying it! It's just like all the figure drawing I did when I was in college—these trees even remind me of people with their reaching arms. And just as with drawing the figure, getting the gesture of the tree is what I want to capture. They make graceful shapes but also have great strength in their lines and upward thrust, so making strong, powerful, confident lines is going to best capture them in my painting.
This painting is based on a new, existing painting at Hillary Whitaker Gallery in Ponte Vedra Beach, FL—a 36x48 called Afternoon Oaks. Keep a lookout for updates on this project!