swimming pool – underpainting

pool - underpainting

This is work on  a painting of  the backyard pool- a classic  above ground beauty, circa 1970 or there abouts.  So far I’ve almost accomplished an under-painting – details defined in umber and washes of greyish blue and umber. I have lots of snap shots of this pool in my mind but my favorites are the darker ones – too cold to swim, a steely, cloudy day, leaves and japanese beetles floating on the water. I want to show it to you past its prime, listing a little and rust insulting the happy stripes. I was attracted to melancholic things as a kid and I still very much am – I think there’s a shadow of melancholy in almost everything I do. I’m happy to fully indulge that inclination for this picture.   I’ll begin to add color this week  (I might share a snippet of progress on instagram or facebook) and I’ll post the bleak scene here  in full color next Wednesday.

i have lots of snap shots of the pool but my favorites are the darker ones – a little to cold tos swim , a cloudy day – leaves and japanese beetles floating on the water in an univiting way
the pool past its prime with rust  looking extra corrosive on the happy stripes- I want to show you the pool past it’s prime, the worse for wear and on a grey day.  I was attracted to melancolic things as a kid and I still very much am – I think there’s a shadow of it in almost everything I do. I’m happy to sink  into that  mood for this picture.   I’ll begin to add  color  this week  (I might share a snippet of progress on instagram or facebook) and I’ll post the dismal  scene  here  in full color next Wednesday.

2 Comments

  1. This just proves that even the most mundane can be beautiful. Lovely painting– and I also share in your inclination toward melancholy. And I wouldn’t have it any other way. Keep up the good work! :]

  2. Thanks for posting this- it’s really interesting to see under-drawings. I love the sepia trees.

Comments are closed.