Spinnaker Pole
Rick Koehler
So from the age of 35 to 55 I raced sports cars, on tracks all around the Midwest. The last 15 years of that time period, I instructed people how to get the most out of their sports cars on a race track and they walked away feeling like a real race car driver. One of the interesting things about being an instructor, was that you were giving your student the best advice for each corner of the given racetrack. In doing so, sometimes I would say to myself, ‘so why don’t you follow the advice you’re giving your student!’. The next time I went out, I followed my own advice and guess what, I usually improved my times.
Earlier this year I was asked by the Oil Painters of America to write an article for their monthly blog. My topic was about adding motion to your painting, and by doing so you elevated the emotional response from the viewer. Well, that large area of sky to the left of the sailboat was quiet; perhaps too quiet. I had added alizarin (dark red) to the blue to give the sky some vibration, but it still wasn’t enough. Then the lightbulb went off and I added the three seagulls. They provide motion and perhaps more importantly they also keep the viewer’s eye from wandering off the canvas. Clearly the boat itself provides motion, but I think this little touch compliments what is happening to the right side of the canvas. I hope you agree. Cheers!
Spinnaker Pole
20" x 20"
available here https://bit.ly/3pMnY2t