Some paintings grow from an effort to learn or practice a particular skill. A few years ago, I worked on this piece primarily to practice handling perspective, trying to show the Jacksonville Pier extending into the distance. It was also an early attempt to capture ocean waves--not a simple task, either. Although it took considerable time and work, this is, in essence, a study--or a study plus some development. The painting itself is approximately 11" X 17", an acrylic on heavy acid-free art paper. Although it began as a study, it seemed worth having professionally mounted and matted when it was finished and now has an overall size of 18" X 24", which will fit a standard frame.Given my math background and tendency to over-analyze some things, I tried to reason out the representation of depth in proper perspective on a flat surface. However, working carefully with several photos of the pier and struggling until the view looked right to me yielded a better result than all that meticulous figuring had. Interestingly, an exact scaling up of the pier and its pilings from photos to painting did not quite "look right", and I had to tinker with the sizing and spacing to achieve a realistic representation (at least, one that looked realistic to me). I am tempted to philosophize on appearances vs. reality or some silly thing, but will spare you that.
Question of the day: Is it just me, or is struggling to master something difficult more fun and rewarding than doing the things that come easily?
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