Big Rock in the Woods, 2006
oil on linen, 38" x 30"
I started this painting by sketching the image in with charcoal. This helps me work out the composition that I want and allows for easy changes. In one of the photos I was working from there was a jagged vertical rock in the foreground that was brightly lit. I drew it in there on the lower right but it just seemed to interrupt the flow of the piece.
Next I began to work out the basic values in the picture. I wanted to get a feel of the light and it's basic overall patterns. I some other sketches I had decided to keep the rock very dark and use it as an overwhelming figure to bring the light in behind.
As I started laying in colors, very lightly at first, I began to see how I would use the orange in the creek to offset the greens I would be using all over the woods. I work quickly in this stage with big brushes, especially when the canvas is big like this.
I loaded up my yellows and got going in the woods, with the light flowing in from the upper left side. I wanted a sort of pouring in effect as I remembered the place when I saw it. The rock was impressive enough but the light behind it made it stand that much taller.
This was a stage of working out the forms of the trees and rocks, as well as brightening the woods above the scene. I knew that much of the grey color would be covered later so I was applying it rather freely.
Now for the black. I use this technique when I draw in oil pastels, working the color and composition out and then re-drawing the image in black lines. That way I re-establish the forms and paint back into the work with more final colors.
Next I went into the woods in the background, making the leaves more animated and controlling the light as it filters through. I also picked away at the creek and fallen trees in the lower areas.
I decided to eliminate the brightly lit branches to the right of the big rock. It seemed to hide and soften the rock too much. I wanted the rock to be ominous and dark, like it looked to me when I walked up to it and felt the impressive scale over my head.
I worked on the rock last, giving it a living feel, while keeping it very dark. Finally, I just tinkered and made little changes here and there to finalize the contrasts and colors.
