Sandra's Treetop View of Dobson Knob

The vision for this piece was immediately seen as Sandra took me out onto her deck to her source of inspiration, Dobson Knob. Her purpose for the painting was to bring Dobson Knob into her home for those days she can’t enjoy it due to the weather, thick haze, clouds or fog. My process was through a plein air study over two days with the first being a grisaille underpainting and then a color study on another day. Using the studies and some reference photos taken during the studies the finish painting was done in the studio. Though slightly embellish as requested, the focal point is Dobson Knob with the supporting elements being the treetops as viewed from her deck establishing the perception of depth and anchoring the elements together. The trees to the left lead the eyes toward the canopy of clouds which serve to advance the eyes down the right toward the other foreground tree. This tree is hallmark and key to introducing the star as the branches whimsically create the illusion of maitre de proudly presenting ….Dobson Knob. Finally resting for a moment on the centerpiece the eyes begin to traverse the landscape in glee as cloud shadows continue the show leading the eyes back to the left foreground trees continuing the experience all over again.