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Jul 29, 2014
Media: Oil Sketch on Ampersand Gesso Panel
Size: 3x4 in
Eventually I reached the Grand Canyon for the first
time in my life; what would it be like in reality; slightly bigger than Rocky
Valley in North Cornwall, I expect. I
arrived at the Visitor Center Carpark on the south rim about mid-afternoon; it
was quite crowded even though it was mid-October, but I expect that the
re-opening after the Government shut-down might have had something to do with
that; I'm glad it wasn't mid-Summer. I
parked away from the Visitor Center, and as close to the rim as I could and
followed likely looking suspects that seemed to be heading in the right
direction. Abruptly I came out of the
pines and there it was beyond scores of tourists, both foreign &
domestic. I threaded my way through the
throngs to the edge and as the astonishing view opened out, my first verbal
reaction to those within earshot was, "Wot! Is that awl there is? Oi thot
it wood be biggah!" in my best North
London accent (that should actually be Noaf Lahndon ... apologies to my true
North London friends and acquaintances).
I received the requisite laughs from those nearby who understood the language
and blank stares from those who didn't. The
first sketch above depicts the morning Sunlight breaking through the early
cloud cover and lighting up portions of the Canyon while more of it remains in
early shadow. Being contrary, I chose my
smallest sketching panel of 3" x 4" thus setting myself a challenge to try and
capture the immensity of the Canyon, in such a small format; perhaps I
succeeded ... or not ... you decide. I proceeded
to draw directly in Cobalt Blue with the brush and no imprimatura; the pigments used are Cobalt Blue, Venetian Red, Yellow
Ochre, Naples Yellow (hue), Cadmium Red, & Titanium White, all by Winsor
& Newton.
Eventually I reached the Grand Canyon for the first
time in my life; what would it be like in reality; slightly bigger than Rocky
Valley in North Cornwall, I expect. I
arrived at the Visitor Center Carpark on the south rim about mid-afternoon; it
was quite crowded even though it was mid-October, but I expect that the
re-opening after the Government shut-down might have had something to do with
that; I'm glad it wasn't mid-Summer. I
parked away from the Visitor Center, and as close to the rim as I could and
followed likely looking suspects that seemed to be heading in the right
direction. Abruptly I came out of the
pines and there it was beyond scores of tourists, both foreign &
domestic. I threaded my way through the
throngs to the edge and as the astonishing view opened out, my first verbal
reaction to those within earshot was, "Wot! Is that awl there is? Oi thot
it wood be biggah!" in my best North
London accent (that should actually be Noaf Lahndon ... apologies to my true
North London friends and acquaintances).
I received the requisite laughs from those nearby who understood the language
and blank stares from those who didn't. The
first sketch above depicts the morning Sunlight breaking through the early
cloud cover and lighting up portions of the Canyon while more of it remains in
early shadow. Being contrary, I chose my
smallest sketching panel of 3" x 4" thus setting myself a challenge to try and
capture the immensity of the Canyon, in such a small format; perhaps I
succeeded ... or not ... you decide. I proceeded
to draw directly in Cobalt Blue with the brush and no imprimatura; the pigments used are Cobalt Blue, Venetian Red, Yellow
Ochre, Naples Yellow (hue), Cadmium Red, & Titanium White, all by Winsor
& Newton.
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Available Paintings by Steven Thor Johanneson
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