Hendershott Fine Art

I have been projecting photos onto canvas lately-even though I can draw-in order to establish the initial drawing and underpainting of shapes if I’m working purely in the studio for complex or large work.

In the middle of Covid, I turned a complete 180 degrees from the studio practice, to paint outside with my mentor, John Eagle who is a local Laguna Beach plein aire artist. Some days are in nature, some in urban settings. I start out composing the shot with my phone’s camera and taking a few reference photos that I work from immediately to set up strong design elements. I begin painting a single flat color onto the canvas, in order to establish a mid-tone, I can work the darks and lights from. The use of grey tones establishes the magic of light, and electrifies color, wisdom that Luminist painters know well.

I have been using thicker brush strokes than before, and moving from photorealism to impressionism. To expand my visual expression, I squint my eyes and close one, simplifying the scene, focusing on an aspect such as light or a beautiful shape, cutting out irrelevant details that may distract from a single exciting idea. I use my creativity to exaggerate elements and to make the work sing. I find that my work outside is a dynamic, exciting, peaceful contemplation.

Even in “the ordinary” I seek out and communicate the essentials that I find fascinating.