“Peaks”

Truly effective artists posses something of a superpower in their ability to provoke feeling through their work. While artists such as Keith Herring had the ability to promote feelings of playfulness and whimsy through his creative offerings others, such as Francisco Goya, had a knack for bringing about uncomfortable reflections on the bleak and barbarous of nature of man in his. Through technique, subject matter, and their preferred medium, these artists command a mastery of emotional manipulation, and through that manipulation they can tell a story and explore complex themes without words.

I count local artist Anastasiya Bachmanova as one of these masters. I may be biased, as she is my girlfriend, but I stand by my conviction that her ocean related artwork truly captures the awe and impact one feels when they gaze upon the sea. Whether it’s under moody storm clouds or vibrant sunshine, her depictions of the ocean beautifully capture both the power and playfulness of its ever changing currents, colors, and conditions.

Over the past year, she’s been working like a dog to come up with a new body of work for her “Beneath Pacific Skies” art show in Pacific Grove this summer. That’s where today’s featured painting, “Peaks”, a 24”x48” acrylic on canvas, was born. “Peaks” displays an ocean vista with majestic swells, complete with vibrant pastels and even some familiar geography on the horizon. It’s a deeply personal piece for me, as the playing field depicted is basically in my backyard. Here’s what the busy artist had to say about her latest stunning piece!

This past year my focus has been on going through my album of reference photos taken along the Central Coast. This painting, “Peaks”, is part of a new collection of paintings celebrating places and moments that inspire me. I will be displaying the series in my upcoming solo show “Beneath Pacific Skies” at the Pacific Grove Art Center this coming July-August.

The painting captures a moment of quiet reflection by the sea during a soft, misty morning. The title “Peaks” refers to the rhythm between wave peaks and distant mountain peaks. The textured sky above continues the pattern within the panorama, mirroring the peaks below.

The feeling I hoped to capture is one of stillness and calm. I have a memory of when I witnessed this scene and snapped a photo, arriving at one of my favorite spots to look at the ocean. The sun was just rising, and there was a heaviness in the atmosphere. The air was still and surface of the water glassy as well-formed waves gracefully charged in. It was one of those still, moody winter mornings somewhere between blustery and summery, an effect unique to our coastal climate.

To recreate this experience, I used bright pastel colors, soft gradients, contrast in the right places, and textured layers. The simplicity of the scene, I think, captures the tranquil mood. The light value tones in the piece give it a gentle and inspiring appearance.

I wanted this painting to have a warm glow to it, so my first step was to apply a wash of rusty orange over the entire canvas. Then, I gradually built up my actual colors: soft blues with accents of yellow, purple, and turquoise. Much of the painting was created using a gentle blending technique. In certain areas, such as the wavy peaks, foreground wave, and textured clouds, I would focus in with more detail.

I don’t recall what I was listening to but it was probably something mellow and folksy, to match the brisk day as I cozied up with my art and warm beverage in hand. I think my low-key, calm energy resonates with my music choice as well is in my paintings.

This piece was one of my less challenging ones; it flowed pretty easily. I did have to be intentional in capturing the color palette I envisioned. It is easy to have too-saturated, dark colors working with vibrant acrylics, plus they tend to dry a touch darker. I had to repaint some sections with much lighter values to capture that misty morning glow.

The parts of this painting I enjoyed most were the big brushstrokes in the blended sections, and carving out the little waves on the horizon with their offshore spray. Those bits are really satisfying and quickly pull the piece together.

I love how this painting turned out! It was so much fun to paint, and besides just re-painting my reference image, I feel like I was able to enhance it with feeling, capturing the color and energy to evoke the tranquil mood. I look at it and am instantly transported to that still, simple moment of morning reflection gazing upon the sea.

For more of Ana’s art, check out her website, www.followthesunart.com

Follow her on Instagram @followthesunart