NIGHT PAINTING
This painting was my contribution to the annual group show in December at Patricia Rovzar Gallery in Seattle. The piece measures 60” tall x 40” wide and was painted from one of my favorite signs in Sheridan, Wyoming. It was also my largest night painting so far.
I don’t often have the opportunity to be in one place long enough to shoot a sign in both daylight and in the evening, but we camped just outside town so I really got to spend some time with this sign. And I met some real horses.
I love this sign in daylight, but couldn’t resist the urge to paint this at night. And big!
It’s common for me to start with an underpainting with a coat of Yellow Ochre and all my shadows blocked in, but this one started with the neon. I then slowly built up layers of color with glazes to brighten the neon areas, while at the same time started putting in the darker areas to balance. The dark and the light being built up together help each other and bring out the light. Here’s a little visual of that explanation. I hope you enjoy!
