Artist Lynn Burton often starts an oil painting with acrylic paints. Why? You may ask. His purpose is to work mainly with dark colors and light colors in an effort to control the value, which he feels is the number one purpose for a successful completion. Once he begins slapping colorful oil on the board or canvas, it ultimately becomes a brilliant and entertaining painting.

An example of this is the above painting. Much of Lynn’s work creatively toys with colors that seem to work their way around the picture in an effort to entertain the viewer; such as, the colorful clouds and sky above. He repeats many of the colors by using them in the land, river, horses, cattle and even the clothes of the cowboys. As one studies the painting, it seems there is movement. As one concentrates on it, it becomes totally entertaining.

Lynn is working on the 24″X36″ panel on wood above. It is a ‘painting in progress’. He is painting with black and white Gesso. This will be the base for a painting in full color. It is Lynn’s way to keep the integrity of the values while studying more closely certain details that need to be reworked, changed, or deleted.

Lynn says: “If you can make out the overall composition of a black and white drawing or painting in a dark room from a distance while squinting your eyes, then your finished painting or drawing will most likely maintain the proper value.”

“I did the painting the hard way but it worked out,” he said when he sent the text to me. “Starting with the value painting, and then adding the color to it…didn’t think it would work at first. After a while, it seemed to be coming together. I would’ve bet this was going to be one of those flip it over and start another painting on the back side.”

“At this stage the painting is beginning to progress nicely. I can see there needs to be changes in the foreground. Also there is a bunch of details to be considered. An artist has to be careful in overworking the details, and I try to remain cautious about that,” Lynn said.

“The painting is finished. The cattle drive is done. The trail drivers may not have reached there destination, but I have. I’m cleaning my brushes, feeding my dogs, playing awhile on my guitar, and going to bed. It’s been a good day,” Lynn said, somewhat in jest.

You can see more of Lynn’s art at the above galleries, and at http://fineartamerica.com/ (Search Lynn Burton)

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