While working and pleasure vessels are stowed at port, and captains and crew take their rest. The splendid brilliance of the day shines on, in sky and water. The decision to make bumpers a vivid orange was not my decision, as that was a given in my photograph. But the blue and orange complimentary colors are clearly the right choice. This painting started with a pinkish peach stain as it’s background which can be seen popping through in unexpected places. This serves to support a unified look throughout the piece.
The challenge came when I realized that leaving much of the pinkish orange stain color showing through the water at the bottom of this painting, had given the water a “Nile River turned to blood” kind of look. (Exodus 7:14-25) What to do next, was the question. I decided to add some blue and mostly white, which would represent reflecting light off of water.
A critical balance is always called into question when having to change direction in a painting. Will the first attempt to fix the issue work? Will it look overworked? These are some of the risks. But the rewards are that the artist has to recalculate and figure a new way through this unknown territory. That is when the artist gets to stretch and grow. But will it work? We don’t know. Take a risk and see what happens. This time, thankfully, it worked.
This original oil painting by Anne Harkness is 60 H× 30W × 1.5D”.
While working and pleasure vessels are stowed at port, and captains and crew take their rest. The splendid brilliance of the day shines on, in sky and water. The decision to make bumpers a vivid orange was not my decision, as that was a given in my photograph. But the blue and orange complimentary colors are clearly the right choice. This painting started with a pinkish peach stain as it’s background which can be seen popping through in unexpected places. This serves to support a unified look throughout the piece.
The challenge came when I realized that leaving much of the pinkish orange stain color showing through the water at the bottom of this painting, had given the water a “Nile River turned to blood” kind of look. (Exodus 7:14-25) What to do next, was the question. I decided to add some blue and mostly white, which would represent reflecting light off of water.
A critical balance is always called into question when having to change direction in a painting. Will the first attempt to fix the issue work? Will it look overworked? These are some of the risks. But the rewards are that the artist has to recalculate and figure a new way through this unknown territory. That is when the artist gets to stretch and grow. But will it work? We don’t know. Take a risk and see what happens. This time, thankfully, it worked.
This original oil painting by Anne Harkness is 60 H× 30W × 1.5D”.
