Artistic Explorations: Gloaming

This painting was created by following Kristina Bril'kova’s class based on her piece Warm Evening. Compared to other recent works, this one came together with relative ease. I didn’t struggle with the composition, and Kristina even complimented my choice of color scheme, which diverged noticeably from the class example and gave the piece a distinct voice of its own. One of the highlights of this painting was incorporating fabric into the texture—a technique I had understood technically but hadn’t tried until now. Putting that knowledge into practice brought new depth and richness to the surface, and opened the door for future exploration.

• Texture and composition

• Hello Little Birdy!

Reflections:

1. Once again, placement of the dominant elements is key. Careful upfront planning pays off. Use chalk sketching or transparent paper to brainstorm, as rework later is time-consuming and not always possible.

2. While the original class example didn’t feature a bird, I decided to include one in mine to create a focal point and add narrative interest. My initial schematic bird felt flat and out of place—ultimately, I chose to paint a more realistic red-tailed hawk. Incorporating a realistic bird into an abstract landscape not only grounded the composition but also made it more compelling.

3. Painting the bird took nearly four times longer than the rest of the piece combined. Finding the right placement and angle was especially challenging. I practiced for days on a separate paper and felt i was ready to try adding a hawk on my painting. Still, my first attempt ruined the piece entirely, and it took hours to cover the mistake. Although it was discouraging at the time, the final result was well worth the effort.

4. Fabric does create an amazing texture, as expected. It added both visual and tactile richness, and it’s a technique I look forward to using again.

5. Even in a looser, more atmospheric painting, the horizon line still matters. The human eye picks up even a slight curvature or misalignment, which can throw off the entire composition.

6. Bright accents are powerful but should be used sparingly. When overdone, they can overwhelm the rest of the painting. Used with intention, they become delightful highlights rather than distractions.

7. I always knew that any painting looks different under changing light, but with this piece, that effect was especially pronounced. In daylight versus evening light, it felt like I was looking at two entirely different works—both following the same composition, yet evoking distinctly different moods and experiences.

8. It's important to experiment with photographing the work under different lighting conditions. The difference in atmosphere can be dramatic, and selecting the most pleasing photo for the main image on a website or portfolio becomes an essential part of presenting the piece. In cases like this—where light so profoundly alters the perception—I choose to include both versions in my description but still designate one as the primary photo based on overall aesthetic appeal.