starts and space station

I’ve been working a fair bit this week downtown at the shop, so haven’t had too much time to go further with the ’starts’ I’ve got going at the moment.  Starts is another name for beginnings of paintings. I’m working from slides i took while out on my bike rides. The bottom start on the right is only a lay in of value; i have much to develop further…i’m going for a ‘late evening’ atmosphere; although I am working from a slide I  dont care if I follow what’s there, it’s just a jumping off point. I do know i want it suggestive without much detail. The main thing i want to emphasize is the atmosphere.  Speaking of atmosphere; last night i remembered to dash outside at 9:56 pm in order to view the International Space Station soaring across the sky right over my backyard.  It was exciting…I waved and called out ‘hello up there!’…I’m sure they were waving back~!  I have to admit it really amazed me to see that.  Thinking about the astronauts up there and the wonderful view they must have of the earth…i bet they’d have some good reference material if they like to paint.  The start on the left is another late evening theme, but in this I am focusing on shapes as the predominant element.  The picture below  has the frangipani painting on the left; I nearly have it completed. It’s been taking a long time, because of the layers of thick opaque paint and glazes. It’s sometimes difficult to keep the momentum going to see it to the finish when there is so much drying time.    I can see that acrylics might have been preferable to work with on this one.  It’s a housewarming present for Jeff and Holly, she loves frangipanis, they just bought their first house! It’s a charming little place with lots of light and a pretty backyard.  Cant wait to visit them after they move in at the end of July.  The frangipani painting is 24″ x 24″ – oil on canvas.  Next to it  is ‘Distant Bales’ which is now dry and complete too. 

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