One morning in late summer 2024, I was invited to join a group of friends who had decided to paint at Henrico County's newest park, Taylor Farm Park. Sometimes when you set your eyes upon a new plein air site, you feast your eyes on myriad subject opportunities. Not this time. I walked around confused, as I could not figure out what would make the best painting. A lot of concrete and little inspiration - not what I expected in a park! I wandered over to a covered picnic area, overlooking the skate park. Never having been inside a skate park, I immediately connected with my subject matter. The colors of the light and shadows evolve as the concrete "curbs" (the long, rectangular blocks) recede into the distance. A man patiently watching his son sat on the side. This was it. Who knew a skate park terrain could be the perfect subject for me to paint?
What made this scene complete for me what the man sitting in the front of the painting. This father patiently watched and encouraged his excited young son as he would motor around the park area on his small blue bike. I decided to exclude the child (as cute as he was in his bobble head helmet) in order to give a sense of contemplation of the man in this set up. There was something so peaceful about him as he viewed his child navigating his bike around the concrete hurdles. I imagined the gratitude in his mind, as he was available to watch his child's joy. I decided to convey his momentary sense of peace in this strange landscape. As a parent, I could relate to the quiet joy of watching a child do what he loves.
This painting is framed in a painted wood frame, approximately 2" wide, ready for hanging.
One morning in late summer 2024, I was invited to join a group of friends who had decided to paint at Henrico County's newest park, Taylor Farm Park. Sometimes when you set your eyes upon a new plein air site, you feast your eyes on myriad subject opportunities. Not this time. I walked around confused, as I could not figure out what would make the best painting. A lot of concrete and little inspiration - not what I expected in a park! I wandered over to a covered picnic area, overlooking the skate park. Never having been inside a skate park, I immediately connected with my subject matter. The colors of the light and shadows evolve as the concrete "curbs" (the long, rectangular blocks) recede into the distance. A man patiently watching his son sat on the side. This was it. Who knew a skate park terrain could be the perfect subject for me to paint?
What made this scene complete for me what the man sitting in the front of the painting. This father patiently watched and encouraged his excited young son as he would motor around the park area on his small blue bike. I decided to exclude the child (as cute as he was in his bobble head helmet) in order to give a sense of contemplation of the man in this set up. There was something so peaceful about him as he viewed his child navigating his bike around the concrete hurdles. I imagined the gratitude in his mind, as he was available to watch his child's joy. I decided to convey his momentary sense of peace in this strange landscape. As a parent, I could relate to the quiet joy of watching a child do what he loves.
This painting is framed in a painted wood frame, approximately 2" wide, ready for hanging.