Bob Ross Remix

The idea behind this piece of artwork was to create a realistic landscape background following along with a Bob Ross video, and then in some way make it your own. I really struggled with coming up with an idea about how to individualize it, but eventually I thought about how cities are sort of the polar opposite of a mountain and trees landscape and thought it could represent some interesting ideas such as climate change and technological development. I wanted the city to be the main focus but also still be able to see the landscape behind it.

For the original painting I used acrylic paint. We used a wet on wet technique, meaning that both the background and the paint I was applying were wet. I was new to this style of painting so I struggled with it a little bit, especially I think my struggle was keeping my brushes dry, because I think that was a really essential part. Then for the city foreground I used paint pens because I thought it would create a really stark contrast to the soft colors of the landscape behind it. 

For the process I started by putting a pretty thick layer of white paint on the canvas so that it was wet to begin working. The pace of the guided painting was very fast, which is something I struggled with. I see Bob Ross and think calm, and happy, but I didn't realize until we tried to move along with him how quickly he goes. After painting the landscape I really struggled to think of something to add to it, the city idea came to me, because I drew a city for the negative space leaves project freshamn year and I loved drawing it and thought it came out really well. This one wasn't awful, but the city is definitely not the highest quality with crooked lines and some messed up lines. I think I culd have executed my idea with a less thick pen, or persued a different idea.