My final step in this painting was to draw rather whimsical lines in burnt umber, lines which both hold elements together as well as suggesting a further meandering of the central image. I was careful to keep these lines to a minimum in order not to overwhelm the other compositional elements.
When working on a commission, there is always a tension between achieving what the client expects and creating a one-of-a-kind painting with its own life force. The challenge for me is to keep the looseness and energy while working toward a defined goal. I am happy to report a sense of satisfaction with this one.
