Day Moon Over Happiness

Musings of the Artists Mind

Ive been doing landscapes with muted colours, having fun with textures. My wife commented on how much fun it would be to see something with very bright colours. I went to my books and favourite sites for inspiration. I knew what she wanted to see, more or less something in a more illustrative style. I wanted the colours to jump off the canvas. I wanted the viewer to get excited by it. 

I built up dozens of layers of paint and glazes, using brushing, dabbing and sponging applications. Allowing each layer to dry before applying the next, over nearly three months.

Originally, I had intended to include the silhouette of a girl on a swing, but I felt it didn’t quite work with the angle I had placed the tree on the hill. The two dimensionality of the hill still concerns me, even though I was aiming for a very illustration style. I also added the bright moon/sun behind the hill, because I conceived this as being back-lit. This is the last painting I’ve done in my garage with poor lighting. I need the natural light to see the depths I want to achieve. 

It’s All Complete Nonsense, Or Is It?  The Answer, When you design your world with The Artist’s Stuff: Prints, Fashion, and uniquely awesome Decor ideas!

What inspires an artist? 

“All they see” is the first and most literal answer. 

For me, that is literally hundreds of gallery & museum exhibits, thousands of books, and tens of thousands of images online.  

When asked where to start a book collections, I almost always recommend these art bibles: Janson’s “History of Art” OR Phaidon’s “The Art Book” Both give a nice overview with good pictures. Once you’ve discovered what you are attracted to there most, you can then dig deeper into that area. 

PLEASE DONATE TO CREATIVITY & THE ARTS!!!