The Windmill

I have just completed this painting today. I started it a couple of weeks ago when I was inspired by a rustic and crudely welded model windmill that my husband and I bought on the side of the road in Postmasburg. Because it was such a beautiful, sunny day I decided I had to start this painting on the grass outside. I got my paints, my water jars, my canvas and the windmill and plonked myself on the small piece of grass outside our house. It was so awesome.

After about an hour or two of painting, I realised it was missing something. So I left it for a few days to let it settle and to let my mind relax because I could feel myself tensing up. This is not a good thing for me because when I tense up, I then mess up the painting by either overworking it or wanting to destroy it because it's not turning out how I would've liked it to. It really helps just to let it stand for a few days.

Then after a few days, I remembered this 600ml tube of Burnt Sienna that I had bought by mistake (I usually buy Raw Sienna) and had kept it because I thought I should increase my range of colours in my palette. I had just been using some of the Burnt Sienna in an illustration and thought that it would compliment the aqua/turquoise colour quite nicely. So I bravely added the colour, hoping that it would be an improvement - and it was! I then added reds and yellows and more Raw Sienna. It landed up being more vibrant than what I expected.

Would be great to hear your comments!

The Windmill
Life in the Northern Cape Series
(Size: 600mm x 700mm. Acrylic on canvas.)

Please note that this painting has been sold. Visit my website: http://www.christytempies.co.za
All content and images copyright © Christy Tempies, 2011. All rights reserved.