Randall Bennett
My Inspiration
My studio and home are located adjacent to beautiful Kansas pastures, fields and woodlands. I take frequent walks in these areas to admire nature and find inspiration for my paintings. During one of these outings in mid-autumn, I noticed a pronounced deer trail winding along between some hedge tree rows and was inspired to create this artwork. The afternoon lighting was just right to make long shadows between tree rows. I was also able to utilize the “canyon” effect between the rows by having one side in deep shadows and the other in bright sunlight with the “trail” winding along between. The title comes from the name for Hedge tree or Osage Orange tree. A common tree that grows throughout the Midwest USA.
My Design Strategy
I know these tree rows well and have watched them double in size over the years. I wanted the artwork to show the size of the hedge trees relative to the red cedars on the right, as well as provide an opportunity to show the cedars in deep shadow and the hedge in bright afternoon light. The lighting had to be just right as well to show the bright yellow/orange leaves against the blue sky. The vista was not blocked between the tree rows, so I was able to utilize a full range of hues and values in my colors to suggest the immediate foreground stretching to the horizon. I wanted the deer trail to exit the painting at the viewers’ feet.
My Working Process
I prefer to work on my small pastel paintings from photo reference, which I collect myself in the field. Sometimes I make color notes or sketches as well. Many times, I will adjust the colors and values with digital editing as well as revise the composition slightly. After transferring the composition to my substrate and making any adjustments to the drawing, I start with light watercolor washes laid in with a coarse brush, to map out the values and general color areas. Most of my pastel work is on white or off-white sanded papers and I tend to migrate to the coarser grits. I usually work back and forth between soft pastels and pastel pencils and build up layers of various colors.
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