Movement

This Sundays adventure at Crossroads was about movement and there is no better example than Koi fish to get that point across. If you ever had the chance to study these magical creatures in a more natural habitat, they are natural beggars and can put on quite a show to win our treats....it can be a mad scramble to get their share too. Well...I like to paint them in the scramble or as they magically glide through thru the pond waters; sparkling brightly as the sun hits them - often making them appear transparent mixed with water reflections......what could be better as a painting subject.  

I brought several size canvases - in the end chose the larger 30x30 surface to paint on. Much easier to wave your brush around like a mad conductor if you have some room to do it. Movement, and the illusion of movement needs a little room to be convincing. Perhaps why I prefer painting larger than small. 

 Morsel Gathering 30x30 oil on linen (4-3-16 canvas 1032)

Cartoonists can use a few lines in a very effective way to indicate movement or even expression. Not much different when translated into paint. The object can be static or not or you can paint motion and movement as a conductor might with his orchestra. Its just arm movement from shoulder to brush.....that needs a bit of room and a proper subject. The trick is to get a convincing result! 

Wet-in-wet with expressive brush work can get the job done much like the cartoonist and his drawing pen did! Experience will refine it further, but the basic concept is remarkably simple. 

LINE & MOTION