Saturday, August 20, 2011

A Beak


Okanagan Park
9 x 9
oil on doorskin

Well I had to paint this scene though the composition falls under the 'beak' category that Stapleton Kearns has warned about.  Check out his blog here to learn much about the faux pas of the amateur painter.  I had to do this one anyway as it is quite a remarkable landmark especially if one is coming into Peachland or Kelowna from the west.  Dropping out of the mountains all of a sudden Okanagan Lake is below you and across the lake is the rocky and burned out Okanagan Park, victim of a huge forest fire in 2003.  Very stark and devoid of life it is only now starting to show signs of new growth.  It's beautiful and still takes my breath away when I see it.  This particular day I had taken my little Yorkie and my new paintbox and started the piece plein air finishing in my 'kitchen' studio.  

3 comments:

Susan Roux said...

I agree. Sometimes the beaks just have to be painted. They are the landmarks and if you soften them too much as Stape often does, they no longer look like the place you were attempting to capture. I find there are lots of ways to soften or bring the eye back around with color. No need to alter nature...

Marie Theron said...

It makes one want to be there, so peaceful and serene, Barb!

Unknown said...

Thanks so much for the comments Susan and Marie. I think you do sometimes just have to paint from the heart and forget the rules.