Description

Alix Hallman Travis, “August”, Oil on canvas, 24×48 in., $1750., 2018.  I had recently moved to a new community and so was trying to greet each new season with new eyes.  August brought the sunflowers, large, small, and in-between.  The yellow flowers were everywhere and gorgeous.  The village was ablaze!

I find I like to reflect the shape of a primary figure in the painting with the shape of the painting itself.  The tall, skinny flowers called out to be painted on a tall, narrow canvas.  My application of paint is done with a palette knife.  Pulling the knife quickly over the rough canvas leaves of lot of the toned canvas showing.  I intentionally leave the canvas exposed as a color, value and texture within the painting.