Painting of the Week

Painting of the Week – Gateway to the West

Point of View is Significant

This painting is about transportation and shipping. Shown are many sources that bring products in and out of our area. This is a “bird’s eye-view” looking down on the subject.

The Red River Valley is not known for hills.  This viewpoint from the 12th floor of the Radisson Hotel in Fargo was fascinating. The dominant street leads you upwards and off to the right following a curve, but then you are invited back in from the left by the train tracks creating almost a Z to the composition. This perspective is rather unusual; since the buildings far away are huge warehouses…they don’t appear to shrink in size even though they are in the distance. Our freely expanding terrain truly makes Fargo a great gateway to the west.

The most common view point is when our subject is straight on or eye level, and then there is the worm’s eye view looking up. Try painting the same subject from a different point of view, remembering the horizon is always at your eye-level.

Gateway to the West is one of the originals at my exhibit Color Far and Near that Opens Friday at the Spirit Room in Downtown Fargo and is up until June 15th. Sue Poitras is exhibiting her beautiful oil paintings with me.

Our opening is this Friday, April 26th, from 5:00 to 7:00. I am  also doing a watercolor demonstration Thursday April 25th from 5:00 to 7:00. Please stop by and see the show.  The gallery is open Monday- Saturday every week from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m at 111 Broadway N, Fargo, ND 58102.