An Artist Rendering of Open Spaces by Richard Davidson, Artist.

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Description

My exhibit focuses on Open Space Landscapes

The Eighteen Pieces of Art that I am exhibiting focus almost entirely on the Open Spaces that are available in New Mexico to explore and enjoy. My desire is to emphasize the Created Beauty of the Open Spaces that are all around us and to allow the viewer to be drawn into the particular vistas shown in each illustration/painting.

The central focus of my work is on the Geological Formations that many of the open spaces contain

The central elements for Sixteen of my illustrations/paintings are associated with geological formations.

When I categorized my work, I found that six of my art pieces were associated with Igneous/Intrusive geological formations while ten of my works were associated with sedimentary formations. Only two of my works were associated with just the landscape/scene and not geology.

I incorporated both the horizontal and vertical elements of the geological formations into my overall compositions

When I further categorized my work I found that I incorporated the natural horizontal flow of the sedimentary formations to create horizontal elements and the vertical flow of the igneous/intrusive formations to create vertical elements. 

Scene Composition

I used traditional scene composition for much of my work. Only one of my compositions was set with the horizon directly in the center; equally focusing on both the sky and the landscape. The rest of my compositions had the horizon in the upper half or the lower half of the scene. If I had a central feature, I normally placed it in the center. If I had two or more scenic features, I spaced them equally apart. In two of my compositions, I divided the canvas into four sections and kept one of the sections completely empty.

Lighting Placement

I normally used upper left or upper right sun lighting to illuminate my main central features. I often took advantage of shadows casted by clouds, rock formations or vegetation on my composition features.

Muted Color Palette

My color palette was normally muted with only periodic bright color highlights to emphasize a particular feature. Adjacent features were often contrasted so that particular features were not lost or “washed out”.

Sketch Examples for Scene Composition

I will use an Easel and Sketch Cells to show how I normally arrange a particular composition. I will also reference my work that is on display to illustrate particular compositional features.

My career in Materials Engineering influenced what I elected to illustrate/paint

My career in materials engineering is very closely linked to my interest in both Geology and Mineralogy. It has influenced me on where I chose to hike, camp, explore and sketch/paint.

What Inspires me and/or draws me to illustrate/paint a particular location

Back story of Ladrone Peak and Yucca Blooms paintings

Man’s attempt to adore and reflect the detail and organization of God’s Creation

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