Sunday, February 28, 2010

Pittsburgh Winter, oil on linen, 48 x 68


This is a painting I did this past December when we were all excited about snow. And there have been years when the snow came and went. That is why I was determined to do a large painting that depicted how Pittsburgh feels with snow. Little did anyone know that we were going to be buried in this stuff until April! With over 70 inches of snow so far this year I think it is time for spring.

I first painted a small 8 x 10 inch of this alley and then took a terrible photo. Both were used as source material. This particular area of Lawrenceville is tightly packed with buildings. By pushing the dark masses close to the top the viewer is forced to stay down near the alley. I think of it as an urban canyon painting. The light patches are used as elements that break up the space and also create the illusion of depth. The colors become less intense and the value of colors become closer as you move further back into the painting. It is a combination of linear and atmospheric perspective that takes the viewer up this snowy path.

4 comments:

  1. OK, Hot shot. I just want to say that you should stop showing off. I mean, It's OK to get off a good painting once in a while. Even I manage to do that. Once in a while. But come on! One after another, after another, after another! It gets boring. And it's not fair. I would quit looking at them if I didn't learn so much from them. So, now that I think of it, maybe you'd better just keep 'em coming. Otherwise how else am I going to learn anything?

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  2. Bill, you make me laugh!! I think I've been a huge fan of your work longer than you'll ever know and I've been taking notes! Can not wait to see your show this coming Saturday. Thank you for the comments! I can't tell you how much that means, coming from "a real pro".

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  3. This painting is so good I could cry Sweetie!

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  4. This alley scene is so great, feel I could just step inside and be there kicking a can down the lane. Your urban canyon analogy says it all. You two artists are having so much fun. A friend of mine was at the gallery in Millvale this past Saturday eve and he thoroughly enjoyed the show. Bravo!

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