I have reworked the Duck in Flight and renamed it, too:
Merganser in Flight, 12 x 16″, Oil on board, 2009, $100 unframed
Working this photo, by Charlie Bierly, into a painting was surprisingly — and pleasantly — a challenge. The composition works in the photo because the context is clear. But in the painting, the “background” — everything but the duck — becomes abstract. This would be OK, except that then the duck’s position in the picture frame is problematic. The solution, for me, was to use color to move the eye around the painting, so it didn’t get totally stuck on the duck itself.
And here’s a brand new painting to check out:
Cammal General Store, 12 x 16″, Oil on board, 2009, $100 unframed
The Cammal General Store is a place I vaguely remember, although, truth be told, the Wagon Wheel Bar is one that I had more familiarity with when I was haunting these quarters. But what I loved about the photo and worked on with the painting is the foliage, that lovely Pennsylvania green, that envelopes the store. Well, that and the signs and flags that country stores often use to bump up their visibility and charm.
Remember, all these paintings are for sale, proceeds to go the Jersey Shore High School Scholarship Fund. Click on the link at the top right menu to see 8 of the 16 or so paintings that will be sold. –June
East of 82nd 
Good job on the duck painting. Very compelling mix of colors. The abstraction has such interest and I like the lines too, the division from dark to light water moving the eye from upper left to lower right and then the bird drawing it back to the left. Not surprised it has sold.
LikeLike
Thanks, Gerrie,
Right now the Duck, a female merganser I’m told, is my favorite too. It has been sold.
LikeLike
Jay,
If you remember rightly, I was not with you during that episode — the bride-to-be stays home while the groom-to-be is feted by his male friends — or at least that’s the way it used to be in 1963. I suspect things may have changed since then — at least now, I would definitely be accompanying you.
And I don’t think my father regularly kicked out overhead lights — only on special occasions, like getting rid of his eldest daughter –snort!
LikeLike
Oh, I love both of these, but especially the Duck in flight. I think the water is wonderful. It works.
LikeLike
June:
Is the Wagon Wheel the place where your father would kick out the overhead light?
LikeLike