I’ve been wanting to shift away from dark surrealism and explore more science fiction themes in my art for quite some time. This first painting was primarily experimental, as I was trying to establish the types of environments and aesthetics I want to incorporate into this new series. I’m especially drawn to hyper-realistic colors and imagery—and, as strange as it sounds, one of my inspirations was the default Windows XP background: those rolling green hills.
I might revisit some of these thumbnails for future paintings. I love the way distant skyscrapers look—especially when they share the same colors as the sky and clouds in a landscape. The colors are subtle, but this helps push the skyline farther into the background and creates a sense of depth.
This is the largest painting I’ve completed so far—30″ x 24″—and I plan to go even larger for my next landscape. Working on a bigger canvas made blending much easier, and I really enjoyed the freedom it gave me to explore details and texture.
I also experimented with using rubbing alcohol and witch hazel with acrylic. Rubbing alcohol dries quickly, making for sharper, crisp black lines, while the witch hazel thinned the paint and made it more opaque for easy blending.
I’m really happy with how the painting turned out, but I feel like the right frame will be what truly brings the piece together. I haven’t applied a finish yet—I’m between paychecks, and the wood finish I have on hand is a bit too glossy. I’m aiming for a more matte look. I managed to avoid muddying the greens and blues, but I think a few layers of clear coat will really make them pop.