West on M

Oil on canvas, 48 x 36 inches (122 x 91 cm)

This image is coming along. Everything is more difficult and slower with a large canvas. Getting the sidewalk to feel as though it is slanting toward the curb has been difficult to acheive, but I think it is working now. Also, at the bottom of the canvas the sidewalk needs to feel as though it is right at the viewer's feet, and from there made to stretch away dramatically into space, sweep by the main figure, and end at the feet of the oncoming pedestrians. When this kind of thing does not work the trapezoidal shape of the sidewalk will be seen as a flat shape on the two-dimensional surface of the canvas, and some means has to be devised to make it "lie down."

Often something like 98% of a painting serves to support just one small area which is the focus of excitement in the composition. In this case the flashes of orange and yellow around the figure's hair is that thrilling focal point. After spending hours and hours filling in the less exciting passages, painting those few strokes of brilliant color is pure joy!