Retired watercolor artist Ron Bigony has been making a splash in the east Texas area lately, winning several awards, and even having one of his paintings accepted into the Southwest Watercolor Society.
Although he took some art in college, most of Ron’s artistic techniques and experience come from reading books and watching DVDS. He draws inspiration from such artists as Andrew Wyeth, Ray Balkwill and Amanda Hyatt, and perhaps most of all, from the very landscapes he paints.
“I like to try to capture the feel of a place,” he says. “I love old structures, autumn fields and the mystery of deep woods and streams.”
In my opinion, Light Snow (shown below) depicts the exact essence Ron strives for. You can see it in the rustic red barn, sturdy wooden fence and quiet presence of forest in the background.
The subtle, monochromatic colors of the sky and snowy field are a nice contrast to the detailed, dominating hues of the trees and barn, and that alone lends itself to an interesting composition.
But Ron’s ability to capture a scene using both light washes and heavily-pigmented brushstrokes is what I really love about this piece. From the barely-painted piles of snow, sky and faded trees in the background, to the rich, dark paint of the fence, tree, and barn, the entire painting works together flawlessly.
And it’s not just peaceful country scenes that Ron is capable of creating. . . going from the snowdrifts to the hustle and bustle of the city, West End Dallas – Series #1 was a nice surprise among Ron’s primarily rural-based paintings.
This piece thrives because of the flurry of activity and noise created from all the objects playing off of one another.
Much like a real-life city, there’s always something new to explore when looking at this painting, whether it be the lively way the light casts dappled shadows on the two figures walking down the street or even the tiny strokes detailing the cars around the corner or the chairs on the patio.
Perhaps on another day, Utah River would be just as lively, with rushing water, but in Ron’s painting it gives me a sense of peace and stillness.
There’s a wonderful, cool, dark depth to that sheltered forest, as it overhangs the water lapping against rocks along the bank. I also love the spotted pebbles on the beach, and the smooth-as-glass turquoise of the water, which brings to mind a calm, serene, meditating pool.
To see more of Ron’s tranquil landscapes, old country barns, and the bustling life of West End Dallas, please visit his website and take a look around.