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Original Creation

Bridge in the countryside

mbbrickner 21 Dec 2021

Oil on canvas | 8”x10” | A few weeks ago, my son found out he was exposed to a positive covid case. We were walking out the door to go somewhere when we got the call. Since we found out he needed to isolate I decided that he and I would leave the city and take a drive through the pastoral countryside. Despite the stress of the situation, I found the peacefulness of the many covered bridges to be centering.

This painting has a beige acrylic ground with all impasto brush work in oil.

Oils

Comments

I love the texture in this!

Thanks! I was really pleased with the way the texture turned out too.

Voy Kay Conqueror of Challenges

A a first I hope your son and family are spared of that wicked Chinese virus!!

I very much adore this creation due to the used technique, almost Van Gogh style, which I happen to like so much!
SUPER!

Thanks, Voy Kay! We're all healthy — thanks for checking.

Yes, I love impressionism, but I've actually found it very hard to do well. Novice logic would think, "Oh, it's just a bunch of brush strokes with globs of paint." I once read a comment about how impressionism is about making "light" your medium and focusing less on the actual vehicle medium for your pigments. This was in response to a question about whether an aspiring impressionist should use oil or acrylic. While that sounds a bit abstract and I thought it was weird at the time, the more I've reflected on it, the more I understand it. I think this person simply meant that the medium doesn't matter that much — it's about how one contrasts the pigments with great attention to value levels. So, as I experiment with this style, I try to focus a lot more on value contrast than I do on shapes and detail. That is really helping me to loosen up and try some of the Van Goge-esque techniques to create interest in the painting.

I love your covered bridge! I love its 3D shape and a fact that there is reflected light on insides of walls of the bridge and a road that goes inside of it.

Thank you, Sunnylady! I wasn't sure how to approach the inside of the bridge. I'm definitely glad that I didn't keep it completely dark. Soft mixing white's titanium/zinc mix really works nicely for giving subtle indications of light without overpowering the darks.

Voy Kay Conqueror of Challenges

Dear Micah, splendid info from you! I might have this technique a go next year!

Please, keep us dazzling with such great ideas and creations!

Thanks, Voy Kay!

I really like this look! What brushes did you use and what kind of brushstrokes to create this effect?

Thank you, Sarah! I use Simply Simmons hog bristle brushes. I think this was a #6 bright, although I think I actually prefer a flat for this style. As far as brush strokes, they are just short "staccato" strokes.

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