That Magic Moment: a new painting is born
Over the past few months, I’ve heard from visitors to my new studio space in Boston many questions about my subjects and techniques: What locations do you feature (Cape Cod)? How do you take your photographs (Google Pixel smartphone)? What material do you use in mixed media (1/16th inch basswood)? For this blog post, I thought I’d share one of my favorite techniques for creating a beautiful and dynamic sky.
I call the point in the creative process when a blank canvas starts to look like a finished painting the “Magic Moment.” Last week, I started and completed a new beach painting featuring the long, thin, wispy clouds that often appear over Cape Cod beaches. For this, I used one of my favorite techniques: painter’s tape. Here’s what happened:
First, I ripped some long strips of painter’s tape and applied them horizontally to the white canvas. To create a sense of perspective, l spaced the strips closer together as they approach the horizon.
Second, I mixed Cerulean Blue and Titanium White acrylic paint to make sky blue.
Third, I painted over the entire canvas above the horizon line.
Fourth, I ripped off the strips of painter’s tape and saw a completed sky: the Magic Moment!
Finally, I mixed colors for water and sand, and finished the painting.
See the pictures below for the results.
