Thursday, August 29, 2024

Rail Road Crossing

I had about 30 minutes during which I did a pencil sketch, then messed around with it at home. The X shaped sign reminded me of James Gurney's analysis of the Rembrandt windmill and putting light against dark, dark against light, light against light, and dark against dark; so I tried to get something like that going. I ended up getting more into the overall flow of light, with the RR signal acting as a kind of photonic antenna or Van de Graaff generator.

Ink sketch of rail road crossing signal, with interlay of light and shadow using black, gray, and white ink on toned paper.

Pencil sketch of rail road crossing signal

More on the James Gurney Windmill Principle:



Monday, August 26, 2024

Breakwater, Morning; Breakwater, Afternoon

The same subject painted from opposite sides in the morning and afternoon. I just realized, it kind of reminds me of the Sphinx, who asked that riddle about who walks on four legs in the morning, two in the afternoon and three in the evening. I'll have to go back and do an evening version.


Morning light creates luminous reflections and refractions in water behind rocky, seaweed covered breakwater on pebbly beach.


Late afternoon light illuminates a seaweed covered stone breakwater linking the beach with the bay. Across the water a headland juts beneath puffy clouds.