Painted in Nov. and Dec, 2024. 20” x 16”. Acrylic on stretched canvas. Price $320.00 Cdn. – Framed.
Our West Coast home is a world away from the hot desert surrounding Alice Springs, Australia. Hidden within this landscape are a number of natural swimming holes. My favourite was the Ellery Big Hole. The water was clear and cool and the surrounding cliffs embraced this little piece of heaven. I took several reference photos while we were there, and one photo in particular struck a chord. One cliff bathed in sunlight and the other in total shade, reminded me of two giant chess pieces ready to do battle. Mitch, in the middle of the board was a small white pawn waiting to be sacrificed in a Queen’s Gambit, hence the name of the painting.
My intention with this painting was to show the effect of light on stone and water. Because of light and shadow, the cliffs stood out in stark contrast, while the water in the pool provided a warped reflection of land and sky.