Hawthorn Bridge from Parking Garage

[skylinepdx]

My plien air painting class gathered for a few sessions painting from parking garages in Portland. Works well - park on the next to the top floor, set up to capture vistas but stay out of the rain.

This is a studio painting I developed from a plien air study and from photographs taken on site. Strange effects from the high vantage point and odd cropping. Plien air follows the studio piece, shows different cropping and composition.

This is the first time I have used digital camera to photograph work in the studio. Photos definitely look too green to me.

Comments and critique welcome. I am planning to work on the edges of the roadways, to add one red vehicle in the lower left, and to brighten headlights and taillights slightly.http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/15-Dec-2005/33939-HawBridgeStudioSm.jpg http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/15-Dec-2005/33939-HawBridgePASm.jpg

[Sueb]

I like this. Partial to urban landscapes, myself, just wish I could execute them as well.

Thanks for posting this.
Sueb

[Margie L]

We all see this type of urban landscape as we are driving along. I get the urge to capture the sweep of the highways like you have here. Good that you have found a vantage point where you will not be side swiped by a semi. :-D Just love your curves and sweep of the bridge and the limited greyish pallet.

[bluemanjacob]

Great job, skylinepdx! :clap: I've been to a numer of invitationals and such around here in Portland and I've often wondered why I haven't been seeing more urban landscapes (I call 'em cityscapes). I have seen some that were quite good, but it just seems to me there should be more. Portland is such a beutiful city with SO many gorgeous veiws.

[brianc]

I like it. It says wet; damp; drizzle. You've done such a great job at showing the reflections of light on the wet roads and the waterway. The values are excellent so the painting reads true and real, and the eye accepts some of the shapes that aren't perfect, such as cars.

Tell me more about the shapes on the upper right horizon. At first, I thought they were trees. But that would make them huge! So they must be buildings... high rise apartments? There don't seem to be any midsize buildings. They all extend beyond the canvas, and to me, that leads the eye out of the picture. A small change showing a few shorter buildings (that we can see the top of) may help this area read more urban and keep the eye better. See what you think.
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/21-Dec-2005/36225-33939-HawBridgeStudioSm_fix.jpg

[skylinepdx]

Thanks to you all for your comments. Brian, the shapes in the upper right hand corner are columns supporting an interstate highway, but I can imagine that few viewers would know that. I'll think some about the forms there and on the upper left - maybe, with just a little tweaking, they would read like real objects and help establish scale.

[BLuCore]

I like your painting of the Hawthorne Bridge. I also live in Portland, OR. Beautiful.

[Utishka]

I love it. I have recently begun painting highways, overpasses, vehicles, etc. as a sort of comment on our times. The movement, shapes and rhythm are inspiring to me. There aren't many like this "out there." Keep up the good work! :thumbsup:

[Carrie]

I like how you have simplified the view, especially the east side bank.
A limited pallet was a good decision.

** look at all the locals commin out of the wood work!!**

[sundiver]

You've made an ugly concrete construction look interesting and appealing!

[Yokovich]

really nice job with this. A beautiful design.

[jarrystapleton]

i grew up with the hiways of the great country and there is nothing mor beautiful and never never boring..and you did a beautiful job and showed the true sheer beauty of it ..lasting joy and beauty...i know they destroyed much beauty but ..you can you can really hav it both ways ..just look at what you hav done .. enjoy and keep working at it, never boring

[Utishka]

I recently submitted a painting of a bridge interchange (attached) to the gallery that represents me. It was rejected with the comment that "There probably isn't a market for it." Oh well! I liked it and it's now living at the top of my stairway in a well-lit and visible space. I thought it was a strong statement. Thoughts?