I painted this view behind some of the buildings on Union St in downtown Traverse City during three evenings. I started the painting on Tuesday when the sunset left a vivid orange glow on the buildings. The cast shadows from neighboring buildings created interesting shapes and color interactions that I blocked in the first night. The next two sessions were under less colorful skies but I worked to describe the textures, shapes, and details in other areas. The tagged graffiti on the dumpster in the foreground became a focal point as I continued to work on the painting. I liked how cryptic the text was in person and seeing them as abstract marks of color was a fun exercise. The divide between light and shadow on the building and doorway has become the main point of interpretation for me now that I’ve viewed the finished painting.
