"Statue in the Garden" by Julie Russo

 I started this painting of a statue on the porch last summer, using black acrylic paint directly on canvas to create the composition bypassing the more conservative approach of using graphite pencil that would have enabled me to fine-tune a more representational composition. Returning to this painting in the heart of winter during a snow storm, I had to think of the lush foliage as well as the statue from memory. I used a very small amount of mars black, titanium white, burnt sienna, titan buff, Prussian blue, oxide green and cobalt green to loosely fill in the color.

 A painting always reveals surprises upon its completion as the viewer searches for the symbolic meaning of the work. I converted the statue to an animate, albeit, pensive girl. The steadiness of her hands and feet, the far sight of her gaze, and the midsummer night imply that success is hers once she recognizes it.

 As an instructional example, the teacher would present his or her own completed composition in order for students to begin to consider elements of painting including a focal point, contrast of light and dark shades, and balance of both lines and texture. I suggest working both outdoors and indoors in order to accomplish a similar effort