Happy 4th of July!

(C) 2018 Dale DiMauro

Recently, my wife and I attended a family reunion along the shore in Connecticut. I was struck by the great expanse of ocean, beach and sky. These horizontal qualities, in contrast with the perpendicular posts, holding up the wrap around porch, were striking.

This quick sketch was inspired from that experience, reminding me of one of Andrew Wyeth's  paintings, with an individual set against a rather sparse background. What I like about this composition is that it makes you look into the painting for something you may not find. The posture and introspective quality of the subject influences the viewers understanding of the scene. This psychological quality not spoken, resonates throughout the image. In fact, the subject matter is backlit, strengthening the profile of the face. 

In this sketch I am trying to find ways to eliminate any unnecessary elements and position the subject so that the composition is as strong as possible. For example, it may be best to lower the horizon or eliminate the railing or even move the post.