A Western Sunset

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Comment by Nancy Sands on August 31, 2013 at 11:40

Gorgeous. Great use of grays.

Comment by Betsy Jenkins on August 29, 2013 at 8:50

Not very long. I finally picked up the brush in earnest a few months ago. I have been a dabbler--on and off-- in art for a while. I did that still life for a class a long, long time ago, i.e., when I was young. We were learning from the masters in that class, and painting the way they did--indirectly. We even made our own paints, boiled our own lead-based oils and mediums, and made our own grounds and gessoes. Now I am trying to paint directly--alla prima-- and really struggling! See my sweatshop24 post!

Comment by Guðmundur Valur Magnusson on August 29, 2013 at 8:26

Betsy, just use my middle name, Valur. How long have you been painting? Your still life is very good.

Comment by Betsy Jenkins on August 29, 2013 at 8:23

Yes, by all means, call me Betsy. I didn't know how to type the 3rd letter in your name without a special keyboard.

Comment by Betsy Jenkins on August 29, 2013 at 8:23

I see. Thanks for responding. I was wondering about the juxtaposition between a sunset, which usually evokes a feeling of peace, joy and beauty and the dead tree, which evokes somewhat opposite feelings--perhaps alarm. I like your idea of climate change: scary things happening on our otherwise beautiful earth. I am so glad I asked you! I have a deeper appreciation of your works now, and I will watch for your posts in more earnest now. Thanks again!

Comment by Guðmundur Valur Magnusson on August 29, 2013 at 7:52

Mrs. Jenkins (may I call you Betsy?), thank you, it seems to me that you can handle paint pretty well. When starting this painting I just wanted to make a realistic seascape, painted first the sky and the sea. Then a dead tree on rocks close to sea level just happened. A lost struggle, rising sea level, climate change? Maybe :)

Comment by Betsy Jenkins on August 29, 2013 at 7:11

Mr.  Magnusson,

You are very talented with paint. This is a very nice rendering-I envy your brush handling. My question is about mood. What was your intention as to the mood you are trying to make your viewer feel with this piece?

Comment by Dorian Aronson on August 26, 2013 at 6:44

Congratulations!  Keep on painting! Smiles to you: ))