Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Ludington Pier























This is my contribution to vertical formats.
It's my favorite lighthouse in Michigan
because of the sharp angle shape and the play
of light on the sides. The black base just adds
to what interests me. I love the worn pier and
pieces that have fallen into the water. It stands
solid through all the storms that have tried to
take it. I've painted it several times because of
the great perspective of the pier and the range of
colors from the surroundings.

16 comments:

Roger Seddon said...

Hi Doug. Looks like I am first off the gun to comment. What a magnificent painting. The composition is tremendous with great perspective and a real solid feel about the structure of the lighthouse and breakwater. The rocks and worn bits all add to the picture and the cloud effects are very atmospheric. I would be proud to own and display it in my home. Excellent. 10/10

Double "D" said...

Thanks very much Roger.
You are quick on the trigger ... it's only been posted for 5 minutes. You must have been looking over my shoulder.
I so glad you like this painting, it's one of my favorites as well. The sky is an experiment where I spray on droplets of water and then drop color from a loaded brush into the droplets. Then the color eats into the water and the paper leaving these great edges. This technique was taught to me by my mentor and great painter Chuck Forman. A great deal of patience is required to just sit back and let it do it's thing. My gallery manager (wife)
will not part with this one.

TheChieftess said...

I absolutely love this one DD!!! Fabulous!!!

Deb Kirkeeide said...

I don't blame your manager for hanging on to this one!
Wow!
I LOVE the clouds.

loriann signori said...

What a great way to use the vertical format... and then you even accented the dramatic push into the picture plane that the jetty! The icing on the cake is the delicious reflections in the puddle.

Double "D" said...

Hey B,

One of the watercolorists I admire is Ted Kautsky, long since passed. I've got a couple of his old books which have a great number of puddles and reflections.
After I first saw these books I think I tried to put a puddle and reflection in every painting. Yeah, I got a little carried away.

Don't you love this pier and lighthouse. Just feels right to my eye. Love the demonstration of perspective it provides.

Thanks as always for stopping and leaving such great comments.

Your painting Buddy.

S-V-H said...

Very nice DD! I love lighthouses and this is a beautiful view of it.

pastelfish said...

Nicely handled, sky helps keep the theme fresh and lively. S

Suzanne McDermott said...

Wow! Bright and brilliant and charming and well executed. It's alive!

Anonymous said...

This is superb..love your style..Im enjoying your blog right now..thanks..Robin

Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Liz said...

I love this painting! I just walked the pier this summer with my cousin that use to live in Ludington. Great memories and great painting!

Double "D" said...

Suzanne, Thanks so much. It was an experimental sky that a fellow painter told me about. I think it turned out pretty well.

Robin, Thanks for stopping by. Always fun to have a new person visit. I hope you'll come back and visit often.

Hi Liz, Thanks. I love the piers and lighthouses on lake Michigan. I like Ludington because it's white and shaped with lots of angles.

Double "D" said...

Opps, Susanne I didn't forget, thanks for coming by and I love lighthouses too I must get to your blog soon.


Hey Pastelfish, I didn't forget you either. Thanks about the sky. It does seem to be the basis for life in this painting.
D

Kathie said...

I'm not at all into nudes, but I just adore the rest of your works!! they are fantastic....thanks for sharing!! i enjoyed looking at your painting very very much!!
Kathie
Seymour
Australia

Double "D" said...

Kathie, thanks for you kind comments. Always inspirational for me when someone new stops by.
I think you're the first from Australia.