Although you know me primarily as a maker of desert paintings, the start to the look I wanted to achieve began with a painting of the mountains.
In the Mountains, Albert Bierstadt, 1867, 36-3/16" x50-1/4" / 91.9cm x 127.6cm |
Although I dabbled in painting, I had never seen views like this before. This type of art was never discussed in the college art-history classes I had taken. This was a totally new discovery for me -- I grew instantly and began seeking out more works like this.
I found them in time (no Internet then), and "discovered" other 19th century artists like Frederick E. Church, Thomas Moran and many others. These three became my "art heroes" and set me on an artistic path that I remain on to this day.
Of course, it would take me a long time before I could even begin to approach the sheer drama and emotional impact of paintings like In the Mountains. I think I've gotten much closer, and I continue to develop with every painting I make. I don't know if I'll ever achieve the mastery of landscape painting that these masters reached.
But I gotta try!
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