Specs: it’s a painting. Cotton duck canvas on heavy stretcher bars. Acrylic base paint finished in oils. The reason I started this with acrylic paint was to take advantage of the rapid drying of that medium. I used to work exclusively with the water based paints but then I discovered that oil paints are a spectacular improvement on the workability that make it possible to get closer to the envisioned design of the image than ever. My pace still demands acrylics, but when time is not an issue I think it makes perfect sense to work exclusively in oil paints. Both prove durable.

Set: 2, Set size: 100,  Item # 95,  Serial: 210095, Title: “View”, Model: Jaela, 34″ high X 36″ wide.

I love the sight of city lights from dusk till morning light. They’re lively, inviting, and insanely pretty. The cloak of blue that is the residue of day, either as it departs or begins to penetrate the darkness of night is something of a visual miracle to me. So I paint that light every chance I get.

For this painting, I tried to find a local view in Vancouver but the elements I wanted were more readily found across the river in Portland. Rather than slavishly depict specific elements of the cityscape, I’ve just grabbed the flavor of that town.

Local to my home, there are overlooks owing to the wondrous topography. We have hills aplenty, water, tall buildings, bridges, and every other thing that make for beautiful views of a modern city. Houses are built specifically to capture these views in the living rooms and be enjoyed every day. So I’m not alone in appreciating such a sight.

It doesn’t lose it’s wonder, but when you’ve got the view any time you want it then it may be easy to let it just be the sweet backdrop when you relax and wander into the story of a book.

Of course, as the viewer of the painting, you get to see the scene out the window but can only imagine what is in the book. Most of us have been swept away by a story on pages and know how great that can be. We can remember times when the cares of the day were put aside for the relaxing retreat of a couch.

I realize that cities are dens of iniquity and awfulness, but that doesn’t need equal time here. It gets it’s due elsewhere. This is a domestic scene for a reason. Home is meant to be a safe resort from all of that.

I also realize that there are awful people. They don’t get equal time either. Not here. The best parts of life involves people. Good, decent, fine people. One never knows what great thing they’ll be involved with next, but there is no substitute for them and I love to include them in art. In a sense, there are three views in this painting. The main one is that of the young woman, full of potential. Our future.

Lucky me, I live minutes away from views such as the one depicted in the window here. It’s certainly not  my house. And I’m fortunate to have brilliant models. In this case, Jaela is the sort of girl where the great things you think people are capable of are every day fare.

As is often the case, I’m writing up the art before I’ve entirely finished it.

View of pretty girl who is enjoying the view in the story of a book against the backdrop of a glorious city view