Oil on canvas | 11”x17” | This is a study from a photo I took at Mt. Vernon. Overlooking the Potomac, you can see the an area that is close to the land that one of my enslaved ancestors likely lived on and worked for his master. I kept the colors desaturated to evoke the darkness of the river valley’s dark history. I used a large, firm #12 filbert brush.
Thank you, Felix! Yes, this is a view standing behind George Washington’s Mt. Vernon mansion.
I have to admit my whole knowledge of that topic comes from the musical Hamilton.
Totally love the contrast of the calm painting combined with the story behind it.
Haha! Yes, Manuel-Miranda’s goal was to make American history memorable. So, he accomplished his goal!
Thanks! That’s one of my “styles” that I’m learning to develop: trying to contrast nature’s serenity with the historical transgressions of a particular place. In some ways, it’s the recognition that the natural world’s beauty often overtakes humanity’s ills even if we never forget the historical significance of a place.
Lovely colors! Very real looking!
Thanks, Sunnylady! I’ve really been enjoying adding quinacridone magenta to my palette. Mixing the magenta with alizarin crimson and a tinge of cadmium yellow creates some beautiful reds.
I have cadmium red on my pallet as warm red. It indeed gives more variety in colors mixing. I am thinking about quinacridone magenta too. Did not get to art store yet :) Thanks for advice!
You’re welcome!
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Very powerful painting! Was this the place that George Washington came from?