Tuesday, February 15, 2011

Horses Crashing in the Ocean Painting

 I'd like to share the creative process of this painting with you. Medium sized (for me), approximately 48"x58", oil on canvas. You know me - dynamic crashing rough-playing horses in the surf infused with passionate crazy emotion tinged with danger aggression and beautiful wildness.

My inspiration is derived from the wild white horses of Carmargue, France. Every equine photographer worth their salt has journeyed there to capture...capture...capture...their freedom, grace and magnificence.

I only wish I had photographed the first sketches on the canvas so that you could witness the struggle from conception to tangible progression. It was work, a weeks worth. So much to determine...composition, direction, speed and motion.

The diagonal thrust of the horse jumping out of the water on the right was so overwhelming I found myself listing to the left. Combined with the thrown head of the horse in the middle, the composition sent your gaze right out of the canvas...exit left. Returning to the head of the original drawing which is downward and slows the diagonal overpowering pull - only this time with attitude. Pinned ears and fierce gaze.

I'm still so pre-occupied with the momentum of the jumping horse, I've added an opposite diagonal in the background cloud. That should stop it for good, I hope.

A note for my artist peeps: My darks (black) are a mixture of ultramarine blue and burnt umber, a combination I've used for many years. I was concerned about using this composite with the warms I have planned as it may produce a green tinge. Ugh. So, I purchased a tube of Gamblin's Chromatic Black which is a composition of Quinacridone Red and Phthalo Emerald. It's working and speeds the process.

"Believe me! The secret of reaping the greatest fruitfulness and the greatest enjoyment from life is to live dangerously." - Friedrich Nietzsche

6 comments:

peaceofjessi said...

Gorgeous, Sharon. I love the first pic you've got there, with so much black still in it. To me, it's always a sign of a good painting when it looks great at every stage.

Lorna Effler said...

Sharon, I'm glad you are posting the progression!It's going to be interesting to watch as you head down the road to completion! The changes you made look fantastic!Hopefully I'll catch you on another day...it was great to visit & "see" what you are up to!

Sharon Crute said...

Jessi: you are too kind...every painting goes through the ugly stage and this one is smack in the middle.

Lorna: I think most people enjoy witnessing the progression of any art piece...I know I do. It was so fun to spend a few minutes with you and I hope you'll stop by the gallery more often. You know of course that we're "pet friendly". :))

Women's lingerie said...

Diagonal idea to run right out of the water was so overwhelming I found a listing on the left.

Sue Johnson said...

Hi Sharon,
Wonderful work and many thanks for the explanation of process...the mulitiple sketches and corrections to get that composition right. Looking forward to seeing the final results. Thanks as always for sharing what you do and how you do it.

Anonymous said...

I have a painting of the wild white horses. What do you know about it. I cant seem to find any info about this beutiful painting. By the way your painting is good. I like the way that your horses have a more energetic energy, like messing around with each other. It gorgeous. Can you help me about the Wild White Horses Paintig? I would appreciate it.
Mary Conley