Art Challenge 17Finalist
Sue Miller Ontario, Canada, Glass Glow, oil, 20 x 34" (51 x 86 cm)
My Inspiration
I’ve always been fascinated with how
form reacts to light. The reflections and
distortions of light through glass present
wonderful challenges to paint, which
continues to push me to try new techniques
and expand my skill. Whether glass is lit by
daylight, candlelight or neon, the vibrant
colours and delicate strength of glass is a
lasting pleasure to paint.
This painting is part of a series I’m
developing called Community Spirits that
examines various aspects of the role alcohol
plays in our society from happy celebrations
to struggles with addiction. As I continue to
work through this series, I’m considering the
societal impacts, both positive and negative, as
well as the physical and psychological effects.
My Design Strategy
For this painting, my goal was to portray the
intense glow of light through glass showing
the many shapes, delicate curves, reflections,
and distortions. The lighting was particularly
important and I often use candles tucked
behind bottles to bring out the intense
colours and luminosity of the glass. My
challenge was to give the impression of
something solidly there yet almost invisible
in places.My Working Process
Typically, I roughly block in the initial
layer on stretched canvas working loosely
from background to foreground. Once
blocked in, I use undiluted oil, placing one
brushstroke, leaving it alone and movingon to the next, to cover the canvas in an
alla prima style. Working from large to
small brush size, I end with a very fine liner
brush for the small details and lettering.
My aim is for the abstract brushstrokes to
pull together into a fairly realistic image
when viewed from a distance. In this
particular piece, I used a palette knife for
the background and kept it quite loose to
contrast with the foreground. The chroma
is high to help portray the intensity of the
under-lit lighting.Contact Details
» Email: [email protected]
» Website: http://www.smillerart.comObservation brings in. Subconscious streams out. — Harley Brown