Warmest Greetings.
I hope this missive finds you in good health and fine spirits. We are certainly having beautiful weather for it.
This month, I switched it up a bit, and tackled a landscape commission for a friend.
The work was based on a photograph from Costa Rica, a volcanic site entitled, “Volcano Arenal.”
This locale was an amazing vista, where vibrant swaths of vegetation were framed by tall stately trees and centered by a lush, rolling waterfall. The view really knocked me out & drew my interest for the serene and pleasant vibes it brought.
After a wash of watercolor, I completed the work in colored pencil and pastel, careful not to overwork the landscape (very easy to do with a multitude of colors).
In working mode, I found myself being very influenced by Julia Cameron’s seminal book, “The Artist’s Way,” where she discusses how to persevere in the face of an overbearing inner critic and the daunting prospect of measuring up to our artistic heroes.
Her solution was quite simple: You may not be able to paint a completed landscape like the great William Mallory Turner, but his sketches and thumbnails can certainly be emulated, and oftentimes quite readily, too.
It felt great to break these out and stretch a different side of my artistic expression. We never know what we are capable of until we give it a go.
Until next month, I wish you joy, peace and good health!
Sincerely,
Elias K. Andrinopoulos
🖼️
