I'm a big fan of train travel, especially on the Coast Starlight, which chugs along the Pacific Ocean from Los Angeles to Seattle. Last spring, Amtrak invited me to take a couple of trips and blog on Gather about the experiences. During those wonderful rides, I tried to shoot as many photos of the beautiful coastline to convey the experience of how exciting and breathtaking, riding this train can be. Since then, I've made a handful of paintings from some of the better photos and am posting a mini online exhibit of the works:
"View From The Coast Starlight: California Coast Amtrak Train Track" by Warren Keating, 29" X 20" oil on paper, depicts a picturesque, panoramic view of the California Coastline and the Pacific Ocean with a train trestle bridge on the edge of a cliff. I was on the Amtrak Coast Starlight Train looking back at the track we had just road on when I got the reference for this image. It is painted on primed archival etching paper (Stonehenge).
This 29" X 21" oil on paper, "California Coast: Pacific Coast Highway" by Warren Keating, depicts an unusual view of P.C.H, the Pacific Ocean and the California Coast seen at the beginning of the Coast Starlight's journey from Los Angeles to Seattle.
Another oil on paper, "Beach Cyclists", 29" X 21". This unusual view of vacationing motorcyclists can only be seen from the train.
"Untitled", 29" X 21" oil on paper. The natural, rugged California Coast as can only be seen from Amtrak's Coast Starlight.
This 29" X 20" oil on paper, "Overlooking The Bluff: California Coast Amtrak Train Track" by Warren Keating, depicts a picturesque, panoramic view of the California Coastline and the Pacific Ocean from the train tracks on the edge of a bluff. This painting sums it up, conveying the experience of riding on California Coast on Amtrak.
Warren Keating is an artist living in Los Angeles. His work can be viewed and purchased at KeatingArt.com. For more information, go to WarrenKeating.com
recommend this
email
print
link to this page
Comments: 34
You got some talent here...that's obvious...but I'm a tad curious. Why oil on paper? I would have thought stretched canvas with a gesso base...it would seem to protect the longevity of the work...or am I missing something?
Anyway...I'm impressed with this. :)
Regards,
Doyle I <~~~~~
I paint on both paper and stretched canvas. The paintings on paper are much more affordable and easier to ship than the canvas ones. I use a premium, very thick German etching paper called Stonehenge, designed for oil-based inks. Then I prime that with 2-3 coats of gesso to give it a proper base that ensures longevity.
BTW, oil paint on a properly prepared surface will last for generations as evidenced by the works of the Old Masters. However, acrylic paint is much more stable in nature than oil and it's chemical composition should definitely hold up better to the ravages of time (theoretically, we don't have any 600-year old acrylic paintings). However, for me, oil is much more workable, giving me more of the results that I want, and it is considered a more "respectable" medium amongst new collectors and the old guard of the art world.
This is FEATURED in Artistic Therapy
I gave you a BIG 10! You are truly a talented ARTIST and PHOTOGRAPHER.
HUGS ~
Rene
I love the railroad tracks with the ocean behind them.
It has been so, so long since I've been on a train. I would love to change that after looking at these pictures. Thanks you.
Wow! Wilhelmine, Thanks!
Thanks, Kevin
http://www.wekpaintings.com/
BTW, here are a couple of articles I wrote about train travel:
Train Vacation Tips
Live Blog From The Coast Starlight
I guess Amtrak and Gather's relationship has cooled a bit, because I don't see any activity from the allaboard.gather group. They were really aggressively promoting it, and, now there hasn't been any content added/approved since September or so. It's a shame.