Simply One Thing On His Mind, 2016
oil on belgian linen
8 x 10 in
(20.32h x 25.4w cm)
SOLD
"The Idea for “Simply One thing On His Mind” came from watching Mule Deer in November in Montana as they compete for the ladies, driven by an ancient drive to gather a harem and mate. He who gathers the most girls wins! While the composition was needed to convey movement, I elected to boil down the distracting visual and stick to just the basics; Deer, Trees and Grass. By adding the snow I was able to create a sense of mystery and intrigue and a much stronger composition.
I created mood by pushing the values so there appears to be a larger depth of field than is usually depicted. This first soft layer allows me to set the stage with a value of cool and simple grass, then tee up for the for the looser, more impressionistic feel of the brushwork, capturing just the essence of snow. Later when nearly finished I splattered the final flakes of paint to capture both the close-up feel of snowflakes and of the distant cold mist."
