Congratulations to Fernando Micheli, whose work has been recognized in the monthly PleinAir Salon.
My Inspiration
I’m endlessly fascinated with water. It’s ‘translucency,’ defined as that ever-changing quality of allowing diffused light through but obscuring details, a property where light scatters, letting you see shapes but not clear images, the semitransparency. This, in contrast to the seemingly never-changing constant of the stoic cliffs and shoreline are the ingredients, the ‘soup’ where life began.
I painted “Lovrijenac Fortress Overlook Dubrovnik” from observation, sketches and photo references on our recent trip to Dubrovnik, Croatia at one of the bay inlets outside the city fortress walls along the Dalmatian Coast, made famous recently in the TV series, Game of Thrones.
Challenges
A couple of unique challenges I faced:
1. The filigree approach to my brush strokes and color to create the sparkle of the descending sun and layering for the translucency, softness, and movement of water.
2. Using the palette knife to sculpt the form and shading of the rocks in counter light.
My Process
The one thing that creates natural looking water is to glaze and layer to create an illusion of translucency and using a light touch by holding the brush at the end of the handle and turning and twisting your wrist while apply the paint, creating subtle and ever changing shapes of the sun sparkle.
My Advice for Entering Art Competitions
Never assume anything in a competition. Art is a subjective subject, not considered by scientific testing or methods. Create your best work and put it out there to be judged. What can you stand to lose!?
I took up painting on a whim after retiring in my primary career as a landscape architect at the age of 63. It is never too late if you paint with intention and love the process of learning and challenging yourself.
Connect with the artist at fernandomicheli.com.
About the PleinAir Salon:
In the spirit of the French Salon created by the Academie des Beaux-Arts in Paris, the PleinAir Salon rewards artists with $50,000 in all cash prizes each year, and exposure of their work, with the winning painting featured on the cover of PleinAir magazine.
Winners in each monthly competition receive cash prizes, recognition, and exposure through PleinAir magazine’s print magazine, e-newsletters, websites, and social media. Winners of each competition will also be entered into the annual competition. The 15th Annual Awards will be presented live at the Plein Air Convention & Expo, where the winner will be presented with a $15,000 check!
The next round of the PleinAir Salon has begun so hurry, as this competition ends on the last day of the month. Enter your best art in the PleinAir Salon here.
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