When I took my first painting lesson back in July 2012 with instructor and friend, Lily Adamczyk the concept of creating depth in your landscape was stressed from day one. Prior to taking lessons, I would work on my backgrounds by adding almost as much details as I did with the foreground.
This earlier piece I called "Nevada Dreams" lacks that distance and transition from foreground to background that I am now learning is so important. I still like elements in this piece, but now I'm learning there are several things that I should have done to make this composition better. I now know that I should split my canvas in 1/3's rather than making this 1/2 sky and 1/2 landscape. I also believe I could have better accomplished the impression of distance if I had made the mountains end at either 1/3 or 2/3's of the canvas and give the impression of a distant range far in the horizon. After all, Nevada has more mountain ranges than any other state so there are always mountains in the distance no matter where you look. I will one day revisit this shack located east of Tonopah and give it another go around.
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| Nevada Dreams- 24 x 36 acrylic painting |
This next painting that I call "Fallen" was completed as I took my first lessons with my accomplished instructor. It clearly gives the impression that the
forest path continues. Your eye is drawn there because you can see the
impression of trees and sunlight in the distance. You know that your hike isn't
finished but rather this is only a stopping point as you ponder this
giant of the forest that fallen. Good landscapes must engage the viewer, causing them to stop and
consider the whole canvas. A simple glance would never do. So I have
tried to remember that lesson with each of my painting since then.
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| Fallen- 16 x 20 Oil painting- See how the forest trail continues on further giving this painting depth |
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| Newest acrylic called "Galena Creek Birches"- again I have continued the trail on into the forest drawing your eyes up the hill. For a better picture you should check out my website at JulieTownsendStudio.com |
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