RodeoUp! – Painting of the Week
Center of Interest
In 2023, I was in the 1st Annual Western Art Show at the brand-new Mckenzie County Ag Expo in Watford City, ND. It was in conjunction with a rodeo and the crowd seemed more interested in exploring the facility and going to the rodeo. Our hosts suggested we keep our booths open until people left the show. RodeoUp! was painted because I chose to close up my booth and go watch the end of the show and take some great photographs instead.
The painting is about the horse & bull fighter. His job is to distract the bull so the cowboy can escape the arena safely and often was waiting between each rough stock event. Fun-fact: there were actually two bullfighters in the ring and the one not shown had an efficient border collie as an assistant. It was fascinating to watch how the dog and the bull responded to each other.
Here are some ways the center of interest stands out: There is only one horse, he is the biggest, the most detailed and darkest shape against the lightest light. Note the contrast in his face versus the rider’s against the background. Strong value contrast is generally the most effective way to make things stand out and highly contrasted shapes stand out all the way across a room. The colorful group of people behind them join together making an active and interesting shape but are much less in focus and lighter in value.
Sincerely,
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