From the Artist:
“I recently did…if I may say so, myself…a lovely little 8 x 10 Fox painting for the Waterfowl Festival in Easton, MD. The Fox was in mid-pounce, amidst a darkened, snow-covered scene much like the one here. While it turned out to be one of the most popular pieces in my exhibit, discussions with other artists led me to consider altering the perspective a little, and composing the work so the fox was less centered. This painting is the final outcome of my re-interpretation.
In the original, smaller work, the Fox was centered and seen in it’s entirety. Here, while keeping the Fox in mid-pounce, I’ve shifted it to the left and cropped a small portion of the body. These two changes, in my opinion, create a greater compositional dynamic that emphasizes the action and gives the viewer a stronger sense of motion. I’ve kept the looser brush work confined primarily to the background, and allowed the wonderful texture of the Fox’s fur to remain visible throughout it’s body. Meanwhile, the brush work in the background, particularly on the viewer’s left, reinforces the movement of the subject, and I’m really pleased with the balance between the tight and loose areas of this piece.
All in all, I’m really happy with this one – the movement, the composition, the detail work, and the color and value contrasts all work together to create a piece that, to me, really FEELS good…I hope you like it as well!”