Painting Description

I created this painting for my latest book, The Painted Horse. This demonstration piece was presented in eight stages to show just how I piece together various components to develop, what I hope to be, a cohesive, final image. It has been said that if people witnessed the making of sausage, they certainly would not be interested in eating it. I hope that seeing the creative development of a piece such as this does not detract from its appeal. In spite of that reservation, I will tell you a bit about the construction of this painting. I selected photos from my file of a car journey that we made in the summer of 2000 to the American West. Enjoying the mountain scenery, we drove many winding roads up into the outback. Chancing upon a group of dude riders in this remote setting, the possibilities for paintings were obvious. Starting with one rider, I built out, adding bits and pieces from other photos of that immediate area. The large, downed, tree trunk, along with the large rock in the right corner, adds a close-up texture of the landscape. As is always the case, some of the elements that I thought I could use in the painting did not make the cut for the final version. Although people find it hard to believe, I have only a general idea of the final work and believe that as I plunge on, the finished painting will emerge. I always hope that at the end of a work, I have learned something from the process.

This image is available for Licensing. Contact Cynthia [email protected] for inquiries.