1:50 PM: i whited over yesterdays image using rose tinted white oils and made a still life of some branches and a crestone conglomerate rock i picked up outside the studio.
branches with rock is predominantly greys and ochres. just enough of the underlying composition peeks through. these, plus a few more dead branches and pine cones were all gathered just outside my studio door. the preliminary pencil drawing was made on april 16 and can be viewed in that post. van gogh, were he here, would approve and recognize the connection to his drawings and paintings, which i’ve studied deeply.
the rocks and branches we see on our daily trail walks are everywhere here in the baca grande region of crestone. they can only exist at this 8,000 ft. altitude, in our san luis valley. covered in snow for half the year, they emerge into the light of day in mid april
branches with rock, 15x17.5” oil on xtra fine portrait linen
