Tuesday, November 16, 2010

Sketchbook Project #11: The Columbia Gorge

Last summer we drove through the gorge both on the way, and on the way home, to and from the Oregon Coast. If you've never driven through the gorge, you've missed one of Mother Nature's masterpieces; especially in that section a little further east where the trees have disappeared and what you get is the basalt cliffs on the Oregon side and those lovely, soft, and very sensual hills on the Washington side.

This sketch was a bit of a challenge because what I was really working on here was the perspective on the water. When your eye is on the horzon line with water, you can't really see it very well. Also I had a problem to solve with the foreground. I don't really like all those big rocks blocking the view, but without them the perspective seemed all out of whack.

4 comments:

  1. I like how you simplified the shapes on this.

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  2. It looks like a tricky painting done very well

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  3. I think you handled the difficulties very well. I love the contrast of the two states.

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  4. I could've swore that I already posted about this one. I'll say it again even if I already told you. :) I really like this sketch because of the boldness of the cliffs sets against the rolling hills. And those rocks in the foreground transition it altogether with the hint of water in the background. This is a really strong piece and I don't get tired of looking at it.

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