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Top      "Minneapolis Moline"             oil

Bottom "Tired Chalmers"                  oil

Recently I have painted some vintage farm tractors as they appealed to me. Upon first glance I was attracted to the cowling shimmering in the light so I knew that is what I wanted to capture. The rest of the tractor is not as important but it is still a supporting actor to the cast of characters of the composition.  

The chiaroscuro masters such as Caravaggio, Paul Cezanne and Gerrit Van Honthorst demonstrate this with their dark backgrounds that bring more attention to the subject in light. By doing this drama is created.

This is not just used in drawing and painting. Jophnathan Glazer’s controversial film, “Birth” shot by Harris Savides is an excellent example of chiaroscuro in today’s cinema photography and had been inspired by the early masters.

We had a break in the weather with a few sunny days. I took the opportunity to paint the long shadows of winter at one of my favorite painting spots.