Stairway

[Bongo]

Was supposed to rain that day, but by 2pm still no clouds in sight - so I decided to go for it. Didn't have much daylight left and the pedestrian overpass is less than five minutes from my house - so I went there (again!)

I picked an out-of-the-way corner - look how clear the sky was, and how long the shadows were already. The yellow thing is a level. I've learned not to trust your eye when outside for setting the panel level.

The sketch - I've already started the block in

Making progress

notice how I've let a brush handle roll into the paint on my palette - that I won't discover until
I've spread it all over my hands and clothes.

"Stairway" - oil on 18" x 14" panel

 

[Perry]

Well done. I like the composition a lot and also you have a nice beige
color on that structure. That vertical pole on the left breaks up
that horizontal movement nicely.

 

[Terri]

This is wonderful! Your composition is spot on. I love the sweeping lines that curve up so nicely, with the strong vertical line on the left. It's really well done.

 

[snoball]

Very well done! It isn't easy looking at a big scene and picking out a small part of it to paint. You captured the interest very well.

 

[Trier]

A good one Bongo IMHO. A nicely balanced composition cleanly presented.
I like it.

 

[Donna T]

You impress me every time with your urban plein airs! It's nice how you simplified the view off to the left so our focus stays on the overpass. I really like this one, Bongo, especially the great graphic design.

 

[triss]

Love the result! Your smooth paint handling works so well with this piece, and I'm amazed at what you've made of what (to me) would be a pretty unpromising scene - great job with the colours and composition. Thanks for the inspiration to not neglect views close to home.

 

[Nufocus]

It’s all been said already….. composition, paint handling…. A very good job!!

 

[Enyaw]

you pick such easy subjects

I would look at that and run .. nice work on a complicated scene.

 

[Artyczar]

Yes, great eye for an excellent composition Bongo. You did well in leaving out certain elements and focusing on the important parts of this. It's a great one.

 

[Lazarus]

Very solid. i like it.

 

[Bongo]

Well done. I like the composition a lot and also you have a nice beige
color on that structure. That vertical pole on the left breaks up
that horizontal movement nicely.

Thanks Perry, I tried valiantly to mix the color of the bridge, but could not get it, so just went with the "happy"accident.

Terri - I'm a sucker for telephone poles, street signs, any strong vertical line.

Snowball, Trier, Donna - appreciate the comments. I'm trying to move away from painting people, places, and things, and just focus on design and composition.

Triss - thanks, - the secret to painting things close to home is to be lazy and ill-prepared - that narrows down your options quite easily.

Thanks Nu, you know I love your work too, but we should chill the PDA for a while.

Enyaw - Arty gave the secret to painting complicated scenes - leave out all the complicated stuff.

Lazarus, thanks - I like your drawing on the monthly challenge forum - way cool.

 

[P. Barrie]

Very good color block in, good feeling of the spaces. Looks like it became more overcast as you progressed.

 

[Hawkmoth]

Really great painting. The composition and colour choices are both top notch, and it's a brilliant example for me of how to simplify a scene for maximum gain.
I also really enjoyed seeing the photos of the set-up and work in progress.

 

[Artyczar]

Not sure what you meant there Bongo.

 

[Bongo]

Not sure what you meant there Bongo.

Arty - Enway said he would run from painting a complicated scene. So I passed on your comment to me as advice for him -
"... leaving out certain elements and focusing on the important parts...." -

Barrie, Claudia - thank you for the kind words -- and it was getting dark - the sun sets here this time of year at 4:30 pm.

 

[Artyczar]

Ah... I see now. I'm slow. Thanks Bongo.

 

[triss]

the secret to painting things close to home is to be lazy and ill-prepared

That does fall neatly within my skill set. (I'm also expert at your brush-handle-in-wet-paint trick, too!).

 

[laf.art]

love the shapes and shades on this piece.

 

[Jo Castillo]

Great piece and comments. I love plein air.