Creek and Grey Truss

On the easel is a work-in-progress of a study of a local truss bridge that opened in 1899, the Landenberg Bridge.

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• Oil on a 12x24 cradled birch panel.

• Working into a tonalist approach through multiple layers of glazing and scumbling to develop the mood.

• John F. Carlson's Guide to Landscape Painting, as well as his paintings (brushstrokes), have been a primary guide.

• Other artists I keep looking at as I work on this piece include:

  • Emil Carlsen's atmosphere.

  • Henri Le Sidaner's reflections and diffused light.

  • James McNeil Whistler's approach to bridges, twilight, fog, and rain.

  • George Inness' atmosphere.

  • Birge Harrison's vibration of light, air, and weather.

  • Dwight William Tryon's air and light.

  • Gustav Klimt's tonalist period

Instead of painting realistic or specific representations of people, animals, and landscape--which I have been doing over the past year--I am working on pushing myself to capture emotion or state of mind.

By restraining this palette to a low-key "chord" of deep, dark, earthy teals, grays, and muted browns, a quiet, heavy, introspective feeling is the goal.

As of today, I am continuing to push the air to become a living, breathing subject in the painting. On my to-do list after the most recent glazing dries:

• darken the air and shadow under the bridge

• continue layer the fog in places, especially distance

• consider the wetness on the beams and how light may strike it

• layer rain patter on the creek