Oil Sketch, 12 x 16 “
This is the first oil sketch for the painting based on my last post.
Climbing down to my location, I found the effect, predictably, not quite as powerful as the previous visit, but no matter. The basics were there. From this, I’m able to start seeing the overall design, and start making choices about where I want this to go.
The working part was a blast; I got wet of course, and enjoyed every second of trying to make this sketch, where everything is changing. Imagine looking inside a washing machine and painting it, and you’ll get the idea.
However, this sort of sketch is often a bit of a disappointment when you view it in a more reasoned environment, far from the battlefield where it was painted. Whatever was in your head seems hardly as dramatic, hardly as evocative, when you are at this stage, and usually design changes are necessary to bring it closer to your vision.
But the honeymoon isn’t over yet.
Ideally I’ll return and push this a bit farther. The color and some crisp points are hard to get in the first go-around, where chaos reigns supreme. After that, I’ll possibly let go of it, turn it to the wall, and let it simmer on the back burner while I work on something else. I prefer that sometimes, because I want to clarify what I’m saying before I start the next level, which could be something like a large 30 x 40″ studio piece. That ‘ll probably mean some sketchbook roughs to move things around and see what I’m after.
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