What's New

second approach improves on feeling and intent

Field Phlat - digital painting / art prints - Dan Beck 2006

I am much happier with this piece - in a sense, it is a do over of the strawberry picker with an empty flat. The first piece, “Field Flat” was finished the day before yesterday - and I was happy with it - even though I knew it wasn’t quite the feeling I had set out to achieve.

The world in this piece is computer fun. I overlapped gradients - did a little copying and pasting - some stretching and flipping, created new paints out of the painting itself, created new textures, blended parts - and just had some good fun with the medium. Yehhh!

The figure is larger and alone, like I had originally wanted - the posture a little different - couldn’t remember the exact way he held the flat - but mainly I just wanted another crack at it - I thought I could portray what I was looking for better.

See Also

• APMP: Gallery
  Agricultural Personel Management Program - slideshow of berry harvesting - a good taste of how it is done
• Fielding
  First digital painting of Stawberry Harvest - still strong - still a good reference

balancing impression and intention with work itself

Field Flat - digital painting / art prints - Dan Beck 2006

For me art is a give and take process. I had seen a strawberry picker in a similar posture - holding an empty flat and I wanted to capture that impression.

I created a backdrop - a non-specific but nevertheless somewhat accurate view of the Salinas Valley.

When I started I was expecting a larger figure and less background - but the painting pushed me in certain directions.

I may very well approach this theme again - to create something more iconic - but I actually find this image very pleasing and enjoy looking at it. I like the way my eye travels down to the other field worker and how it feels like the man holding the flat is on the verge of, if not already, moving down to join him.

See Also

• Salinas Valley - VR Panaramas
  360 degree views of this area - different sort of tour - San Miguel mission is closed from earthquake damage - so a treat to see in this format
• Figures Art Gallery
  view other work by Dan Beck