Summit at Black Rock
This recently finished oil pastel painting was especially challenging. Faces of people very familiar to me and hands take a lot of trial and error. The small size I work (8.5″ x 11.5″) makes it worse of course. I’m calling this finished for now, but there are still a few things which may get tweaked (again!) down the line. The subjects are four fishing guides in New Brunswick, Canada; at a camp I’ve visited every summer for 15 years. The border was closed in 2020 and this year may be another miss. I have my fingers crossed that a vaccination may be an entry ticket. Some of these guides have been doing that hard work for fifty years. They pole a single angler in 15 ft canoes up and down a mile of tumbling, rocky, private water.They really know the salmon and the river and are a pleasure be with. This is my ninth painting of the area. I hope to get there in the autumn some time to incorporate the colorful foliage.
Wow. Very realistic indeed and you can almost feel the sun on your back as you look at these guys having a summit.
There is a lot of individual character in those faces. And the hands as well. Beautifully rendered!
A wonderful tribute to the efforts of these men over the years and the comradeship with you.
The relaxed atmosphere and handling of the various textures adds to the warmth of the relationship.