Dark Valley was inspired by a smaller study by the same name, created in my studio in late 2017. The original small sketch was created entirely with a rag and came about as a happy accident. It was created with only three pigments: Titanium white, Genuine Naples Yellow, and Ivory Black. Being a lover of anything monochromatic or created with a limited palette, this inspired me to see if I could re-create the atmosphere and mood inherent in the small sketch on a much larger scale.
Enter Dark Valley 2.0. This piece did not come about easily and is the result of many, many layers of paint and a slightly wider palette. At the same time, it does showcase some of the mood of the original and offer that feeling of mystery and subtly suggests something other, some strange presence in the unnatural glow in the middle of the valley.