I’m a fanatic fisherman. I’ve fished from coast to coast and have caught all kinds of trout, bass, bluegills, crappies and some fish that I couldn’t recognize.
This is a self-portrait. I’m standing in Sugar Creek in central Indiana. Notice the reflections in the water. Can you see me upside-down? There is a contrast between the dark shady trees and the sunny ones. This technique adds drama and interest to a painting.
Comments on Fishing on Sugar Creek
The reflection in this work is incredible! Along with the beautiful colors you used, it gives me a sense of tranquility and warmth. Beautiful painting!
I love this painting. It is one of the true definitions of Tom Slack. I will always think of you as an artist and a fisherman. Very beautiful colors and reflections.
The best part of the painting is the reflection. How do you make a reflection look so authentic, without being an exact copy of what is being reflected? Are there any “tricks of the trade”?
Jennifer, you asked how I made the reflection look authentic without being an exact copy. If you look at reflections in a lake you will find that they are distorted because of the movement of the water. I try to match the colors being reflected, but put them slightly to one side or the other. Let’s say you have a flower–the blossom is yellow, so the yellow would be painted slighty to the left. The green stem might be painted partially to the left and partly to the right. Also there might be a slight reflection from the sky that would intersect the painting because the surface of the water would be tilted toward the sky, so it might be blue. Does that help? Remember a slight distortion makes the difference.
The scale in this painting is what makes it so interesting to me. I love the way that the sublime comes through with the overpowering size of nature, in contrast with the small size that you are in the painting.