See Detail of painting

Ultramarine Cove
by Elise Tomlinson,  
Oil on Canvas 20"x 24"

In this series of work I became much more conscious of color design. I've always enjoyed figurative paintings with wild and unrealistic colors but I wanted to be more controlled in my use of color. I started studying artists like Matisse and Chagal intently.

In this painting I have tried to create two separate color triangles. The purple of the mountain as the apex, the large purple sphagnum moss on her left, and the two smaller purple mosses on her right create the first color triangle.

The crimson of her hair is the second apex, with her arms acting as either side of the base.

I didn't wanted to weigh down the foreground by connecting the two lighter colors of green, thin at the top and heavy on the bottom.

I am very happy with the results.