Sunday, March 2, 2008

A Walk to the Dock 9" x 12" oil

I had a plein air day out on Balboa Island. Everyone was painting the Pavilion and I wanted to do something different. I am just trying to find subjects on my own. I really want to find my own subject matter and paint it. It makes me ask what excites me about a subject. What I do with that isn't always what I thought it would be, but I figure eventually I will start putting it together.
This was a very gray day. It had been raining up by my house and it was just cold down on the island. I saw this private pier and dock and liked the reflection of the boat covers in the water. I also liked the way the pier cut across the picture to the dock and divided the canvas. Also the distant houses and palm trees divide the upper part of the canvas. I like practicing muted geometric shape that make up buildings in the distance.
Well everything was gray and it took a lot to see any color. Also dealing with the white railing was difficult. This is one I will try again hopefully on a sunnier day. By the time I got in my car the temp had dropped 15 degrees and it was starting to rain.
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8 comments:

Cooper Dragonette said...

Dori
This piece is really terrific! I think it's your strongest of the latest batch on your blog. Perhaps it's because it's composition is so linear versus the organic lines and shapes of the previous entries. I also think the dynamic between the white of the dock and the color of the water and underside is great.

Dewberry Fine Art said...

Thanks so much. It is so nice to have a fresh eye. Many of the things I questioned you brought up.

Anonymous said...

My eye keeps gravitating to the magenta on the pier support. Just love that spot. Especially because the rest of the picture is grayed.

Dewberry Fine Art said...

Thank goodness for color.

Kim VanDerHoek said...

I never saw the finished version on Saturday and I really like how this one turned out! Good choice of subject too!

Dewberry Fine Art said...

Thanks Kim...I was happy considering I really was not sure of the subject or my ability to do it. I really liked the 2 I saw of yours.

Connie Kleinjans said...

Hi Dori. This is better than you think it is. The composition is unusual but strong. It has tremendous depth and really pulls you into the canvas. The palette is muted but rich. Your linear perspective is spot on, and that could have gone wrong so easily and then made people squirm. And it has mood. Bravo!

Deborah said...

This painting a day thing is really working. You are fabulous! Nice work.