This work began with an interest in Millet's view on politics. The immigration, and what the immigrants brought to the table at the time. For me this at the center of whats going on today in the world, with the mass immigration in the US and other countries throughout the world as strife and war causing people to flee their home land, seek peace, and a new life. In my painting I don't have the people included in the background, to show the polarization between the the classes. What I did want to do is to depict a stark difference in the land, the stark contrast between the red and the yellow, and the sharp difference between the figures and the softer lines of the distant objects.
I want the stark contrast to have just as much weight as the figures, to have the extra tension in the image, to cause the curiosity with the viewer. The people are done in sharp angular forms to exaggerate their posture, to draw attention to them. You begin to piece the puzzle together, as you view whats going on. This is still a work in progress.
In the latest image above done on October 23rd. I changed the trees to large hay stacks, and lightened the forms in the front to show the light effect better. having that contrast between the light and dark is important for the figures to stand out, to help them move forward, and bring more interest to themselves.
in looking at the image I can't help but think the hay cart in the background needs to go. there isn't a need for it and I feel the image will be cleaner. I'll enhance the shadow of the hay stacks, and possibly alter the color of the sky. this painting is a 16x20" linen canvas, painted with mostly old holland oils.
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