PAROO RIVER SUNSET

I spent 8 days painting at Eulo, in far Western Queensland. This painting is my interpretation of the strong orange sunset colours offset by the more naturally toned gnarly trees, roots, rocks and grasses. There's a bit of artistic license in this artwork as I have combined several vistas into one - but you have to expect that with artists! It still evokes that late afternoon riverside feeling of profound peace together with vibrant sunset colour.

The other thing I enjoyed in this painting is that for some reason, I employed a few different techniques - I'm pretty sure that's a no-no, or at least that's what i have been taught. But each part of the painting demanded a different approach. My very favourite is the rocks at the bottom left corner. I LOVE them and for a while, I couldn't even remember how I made them so wonderful. Such varied and interesting texture, form, composition and luscious colour. I plan to develop this technique further in the future - check out the close up! Then there is the uncompromising orange water, and the shape/path it forms between the other elements. The way the sunset rims the tangled branches in the upper right, the gnarly middle branches and the sensuous use of colour and form as they wind together, some parts painted carefully and some left hanging. A trap for the eye. Last of all, the three islands which balance out the composition, and are they realistic or not? It was a lot of fun doing this painting, even if I did have to throw a minor tantrum and completely scrub it back to almost bare canvas twice, before I was happy. I learnt a lot from it.