Charcoal Canvases

I recently did two series with the background in reverse.
I used a charcoal canvas as a base and created light by applying it.

A reverse view for most painters.
Most painters take their neutral / their light from a base of a canvas starting in white.
It creates an opportunity for layers with out darkness or depth being assumed.

I find that by playing on a charcoal field, I am forced to apply light and create my own.

It is never easy to turn yourself inside out, but the result is one of dark to light -
creating your own sense of how light you can go, allowing some brushstrokes and
applying layers of your light appearing.

I think of great painters that we all know.  Jackson Pollock.  Picasso.  Degas.
They all created their own light by layers and play.
That is the hope in my message.
Creating your own light.

Paint on!!