I started this painting with a playful abstract. Just freely painting without rhyme or reason.

I then focused on color harmony by adding some vibrant colors and removing the beautiful patch of red in front of the child because it distracted from the subject. I also worked on the figure details.

Then I added three figures forming a triangle with their head positions.

In this final image, I added more highlights and darkened the upper right corner to redirect the viewer to the figures.

 Because life can be complicated and challenging, I use the sky diver's adage: "Look where you want to land" as my guide. It is why I focus and often refocus on the pleasure and beauty of life. It is the positive essence of this focus that I hope to relate.

When I visit the gulf (minutes from my home), I often take photos while sitting in a beach chair. I capture the shot from a low angle rather than an eye-to-eye perspective because I find it more exciting and out of the ordinary.

I use the photos as a beginning inspiration and most often change - well pretty much everything by the time the painting is complete. I changed the color and value of their legs to blend with the sand and shifted their bathing suit colors to harmonize with the water. I added some trees in the background and then created a horizontal line along the shore.  The painting seems to dictate what it wants—a bright blue square along the right edge of the picture. Fine, I tell myself, none of it has to make sense; it only has to feel right. 

 I’ve always loved to dance and when I want to
loosen up in the studio,
​I turn up the music
and start to move.

Perhaps someday I’ll get the nerve to make
a dance video, for now,

I just want to share the idea with
my fellow artists or anyone that
wants a break.

I figure that’s just about everyone right now!
​
Dancers 24” x 20” oil painting available @ChasenGalleries