Red Rock Canyon 1

[tgsloth]

MY IMAGE(S):



GENERAL INFORMATION:
Title: Red Rock Canyon 1
Year Created:
Medium: Oil
Surface: Board
Dimension: 8x10
Allow digital alterations?: Yes!

MY COMMENTS:
There I was standing out in Red Rock Canyon, NV, trying to do a plein air and it rained on my parade possibly saving me from a failed wet on wet composition anyhow. I'd allowed the work to get too thick and muddy and with the rain, it was becoming wet on wet on wet.

MY QUESTIONS FOR THE GROUP:
So this image show resurrection in the studio. Never give up!

[maryinasia]

absolutely love the top part of the this painting where the mountain is transformed by the light.

[mark brazney]

great under painting

[Debzy]

I love the unusual mix of colours in the rock, really love them! I also love the stream of sunlight through the uncertain weather you had there playing across the foreground. The only crit I have is the right side, I feel there is not enough clarity in what is happening there. However, as you said, it was raining and that would contribute to a somewhat blurred or misty image. I think you have a lovely, raw, no fuss attack to this work and I wish I had that ability. Well done, I love it. Cheers. Debs. =))

[Dana Design]

You brought back some memories for me, Bob. I used to climb at Red Rock Canyon, NV, a beautiful place.

Somehow, I've lost the perspective here. Don't know if the greenery in front are trees or sagebrush. Most likely, sagebrush as there are few large trees there. And perhaps muting the red that cuts across the mtn would make it more cohesive as a 'monument'.

Love the palette you've used!

[Katie Black]

Hi Bob, I really really like this...the colours are just fabulous!

[AllisonR]

I really like this painting. Your color choices are wonderful. I especially love how the pinks in the strong front mountain play against the light pinks in the soft mountain shape behind. I love that faded pink shape, it almost glows, and does wonders to keep me in the painting.

HOWEVER, I would not title thisRed Rock Canyon. I think the image looks much more fantasy land than real. It almost looks like an abstract set of giant teeth clamping together. The perspective is all off, and the odd sized shrubbery and bits of red in the foreground do not look like a possible real scene on earth. But the painting is great. Therefore I would rename it, so the individual viewers can accept this space and make their own interpretations of it.

[tgsloth]

Allison's right and it's an interesting lesson as to how the title of a painting can be quite important. And note how Dana, an apparent former desert rat girl commented that my painting didn't look like the canyon as she recalls it. What happened was that the actual mountain was obscured in morning mist and then after I'd blocked in the scene a steady rain began and me with no easel umbrella. I fled. I figured to try to do something with the piece in the studio and as I had only a mist obscured photo for reference, I found myself increasingly painting an imagined scene. I was rather happy to do this as I figure one is being more artistic in creating an imagined scene than in carefully "transcribing" a scene to canvas. Clearly artists do both. So let's say I call it, "desert mist".

[Debzy]

Good call Bob! Desert mist...... I like that! It is a better title! Cheers Debs. =))

[arnieb]

I like the colours and out of focus / wet look you have got, but feel it needs a little more to finish it off.
I agree with your comment about the title - the title provides a starting point for interpreting the image.
Also agree with comment about transcribing and imagination - indeed is not the art in getting the balance right between these too? I find Colour, Composition, Design and Imagination useful considerations in my painting. Arnie

[La_]

love your ability to get good strong contrasts
however, i'm finding some of the blue verticals in the rocks to be a bit overwhelming

greyscale comparison ...