Southeast Missouri State University
River Campus Mural
November 22, 2005 - January 22, 2006
As
I have been working with a river theme for a little over twenty
years, I have spent some time studying and painting water. Water
is simple, and yet, very complex. Yes I know that is a contradiction.
But, the painting of water is a slow and arduous process. The
color values and textures are limitless making the process very
complicated. The question arises, how far do you push an area
before it becomes over worked. Somehow the complication must be
simplified so that it flows as a unit.
To create the image of a flowing river
the water texture must be built up in a series of dots of paint.
In order to achieve this dotting pattern,
broad values of color have to be mixed and applied in a dark to
light fashion in relation to the bright reflection of the moon
on the water.
Because I move from side to side creating
this dotting texture, I use this large hand held palette to travel
with me.
My ability to raise and lower the mural
on the wall allows me to work from a single standing position.
As the work on the water draws to a
close, I begin the final work on the foreground.
I thought this area was going to be
easy to finish. I was wrong. It was my hope to finish the center
section of the mural on or before January 1. I am past that date
and setting my sites on February 15 as a date to finish the center
section.
I thought I would be able to do a shorthand
notation for the foreground figures. I was wrong. Each figure
will have to be completed in far greater detail than I realized.
All the best to you,
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