Crude : acrylic on canvas : 16" x 36" : 2010
My inspiration was the BP oil spill. I envisioned these featherless birds falling from the sky behind a girl, hanging on her shoulder is a oily monster inspired by the BP logo. Perhaps he is whispering terrible, crude lies into her ear.
Color blocking complete.
Blocking in color.
Adding some more color to the sky.
Starting to model the face.
Struggling with the birds.
I keep trying to tweak the clouds in hopes that it will help.
Perhaps a Surreal twist with a hose sucking them out of the sky? No.
I play around with the new funnel a bit.
Her personality is coming through a bit now.
Perhaps that is not the right background for this painting.
The clouds are not helping.
I decide to take out the birds completely.
Frustrated, I contemplate cutting down the canvas. Then we went camping and I took the painting with me. The oil rig makes more sense and comes together quickly.
Details from the finished piece.
