Bob Gherardi

New Jersey, USA, I Promise, acrylic, 10 x 8" (25 x 23 cm)

My Inspiration

A hauntingly beautiful, grey day. As

I was drawn in to walk deeper, I was just as reluctant to go any further. A light mist and compromised footing challenged me to continue. There was a tension between moving forward and staying safe where

I was. Going as far as I felt permitted, there was a silent respect between myself and the thick brush and the fog that masked what was beyond the trees. As I settled into this place I became a welcome guest. The tension that almost prevented me from moving forward was transformed into a peace and rest that then engulfed me.

My Design Strategy

The challenge of this piece was to avoid painting every single tree and the thousands of accompanying branches and having it still look like thick trees and brush on the horizon. I felt this kind of approach would compromise the sense of mystery and curiosity that drew me into this place. I anticipated the foreground was where I would be using sharper edges and thus creating depth and distance between the tall, stiff brush and the soft, misty horizon.

My Working Process

I first covered the gessoed Masonite using a stiff, flat brush. These splashes and texture sometimes peak through layers of paint lending themselves to subtle textures. I was intentional to avoid being too “careful” and getting caught up in the details. It was especially important as the mist on the horizon could be compromised. I used a palette knife to lay the background’s foundation. I then went back and forth painting and scraping many layers of trees and branches with a liner brush and palette knife. The majority of the brush in the foreground was achieved with a liner brush and a touch of palette knife to marry it with the background.

Contact Details

Email: bobgherardi@gmail.com Website: www.gherardi.com