Have you ever been to the West Fork of Oak Creek? It is worth a trip during Fall! The entire West Fork Canyon stretches 14 miles, but I have only gone 3 miles out and back. Someday, I will venture further… A fall trip to West Fork is a tradition for my wife and I. We took our engagement pictures there and really enjoy the vibrant colors from maples and oaks. In the first three miles we usually hike, the trail crosses the creek at least a dozen times. Once, I came across a woman who had slipped and broke her hip. EMT workers were loading her on a stretcher. West Fork can be super busy on the weekends and parking can be scarce. However, after hiking about one mile, the crowds dwindle and we can enjoy the quietness of the narrow canyon. I particularly like the scooped, wave rocks and reflective pools of water. In this post, I will share my reference photo and explain some of my process of oil painting. Here is my reference photograph:
“Golden Pool” – reference photograph
I was drawn to paint this picture for the bright back lighting on the canyon wall and also the vibrant reflections in the water, not to mention the unique rock formation as well. When I paint, I allow the paint to tell me what to do. I am not afraid to put down unexpected colors for feeling. The feeling I am going for is to bring out the glowing light and warm feeling of the season, which brings the surprise of fall colors. As you will see in the final painting, it looks far from the reference photograph. It is my intention to just allow the photograph to bring me back to the place and pull from memory how it felt to be there.
“Golden Pool” – detail
I chose to paint with a palette knife, enjoying the textural qualities it produces. It is almost a sculpting technique of moving paint into blocks of color. I’ve purposely allowed the paint to look like a mosaic of color. When up close, the painting is abstract and the viewer can get lost in the nuances of color and texture. While, from a distant of 2 feet or more, the painting tightens up and makes more sense.
“Golden Pool” – detail
Another wonderful thing about the palette knife is the sense of movement and energy created from repeating textures. Here, I wanted to give a ripply movement to the water and let the paint look more smeary and loose.
“Golden Pool” – 11×14, oil
And, the final painting, a celebration of autumn colors!