April 12, 2008 underpainting for canal painting

14 x17 oil underpainting
I realized that I was making a big mistake once I took out the oils.....mixing the local colors. Daag...I can't believe I did that! An artist's job is not to just observe and record (anyone can do that! Instead it is to feel and create a feeling. So I started with a sketch and some photos from the canal. I love the foggy peaceful feeling the canal has when it is empty and the sun peaks through the fog. A feeling of possibility for the day to come and wonder of what our world really is. My compromise to oils was to under -paint on my favorite prepared board. This is that under -painting. My goal was to get the feeling with just the oil alone. Now, let the pastels begin!