“The Fractured Earth #1”
Rockscape Series
(Watercolour and Gouache on paper)
Size: 98x83cm (framed)
ABOUT THIS PAINTING
I am fortunate to live in a very lovely part
of the world. The coastline of the
Sunshine Coast, Australia can boast of sandy beaches and blue clean surf. Also the coast has a temperate climate and
sunny days hence its name.
History is recorded in the rocks that
form some parts of this coastline. These
weathered volcanic rocks, seen at Point Cartwright, are where I frequently
walk. I photographed these abstract
shapes that have formed naturally eons ago.
They represent to me the span of time that this great land mass,
(Australia), has been nurturing life.
When looking at this present coastline, one must
realize that over the last 800,000 years there has been much change. In fact geological studies reveal that about
120,000 years ago, Point Cartwright and her sister headlands were small
islands. The sea level we now experience
has existed for the last 6,000 years carving the present rockscape of honeycomb
weathered Landsborough sandstone. The
patterning is thought to be the result of the surface drying before it
consolidated.
However science is showing us humans
that the oceans and the coastal regions are in trouble. This concern for the natural environment is
the reason I painted the Rockscape Series.
This series, based on the photos I have taken of the rock formations at
Point Cartwright, have inspired the series of ten watercolour and water media
paintings called “The Fractured Earth – Rockscape Series”. This is the first in the series - #1.
Artistic techniques used in the painting:
The photo
that inspired the painting discussed this week, is seen below. It is a rockscape.
I originally
sought to paint the photo accurately but with this particular painting during
the art making process, I took artistic licence. This process allowed me to maintain the
abstract format that I favour for many of my paintings. Seen here below is my rough drawing for the
painting.
All ten
paintings in the series are on full size sheets of watercolour paper and are
framed in uniform. Some of the other
paintings in this series are reviewed in posts #19, 67 and 69.
Water colour
painting is often very traditional and representational. In this series I have tried to keep to the
traditional application but have varied the subject matter to be abstract. The size of these paintings also deviates
from the traditional in that I have used full size sheets.
I would argue
that the genre would fall into “Landscape” because of it being a
Rockscape. The abstract composition is
however not as abstract as one would initially think because, the painting is
consistent, in part, with the photo.
The
composition is static, flat and balanced – typical of my Abstract
Expressionistic approach. The form is
flat with fairly large planes of colour for a watercolour painting. The tone is low to medium because there is
not a lot of contrast.
A Triadic
Colour scheme is used throughout. Orange
is the main colour. Its compliment is
Ultra Blue. The Supporting Triadic Colours
are Manganese Blue and Mauve (made from Permanent Violet and Rose Madder). The Analogous Colours used here are Red
Orange and Cad. Yellow. Black (made from
Prussian Blue and Perm. Rose) and White are also used.
Most of my
paintings address abstract themes and the rationale behind them is discussed in
more detail my 3 min. video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FQ2MzRmoKBA
I welcome
your comments and value your interaction.
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