AFTER THE RICE HARVEST

AFTER THE RICE HARVEST 36" X 48" Original Oil Painting  by Raelene Shea. 

After each harvest of rice in Sri Lanka, the husks are removed by drying in the sun and shaking through mesh. Then the rice is shovelled into sacks to be taken to the rice wholesaler. Of course some is kept for the family to use until the next harvest. This kind of scene is everywhere in Sri Lanka 2 or three times per year depending on the amount of rainfall in the area. It speaks to me of the strength of the family unit here; all working together to ensure the family has the main staple food for the next season. Babies are typically not brought to the paddy fields but stay home with Grandma, but I felt it rounded out the the family to include it.

After The Rice Harvest can be seen as a work in progress on the NEWS section of this website also.

I never do a detailed drawing, rather sketch in the bigger shapes to get the composition, perspective, and figure positions relative to each other. Then I begin with blocking in the bigger shapes with medium color to begin working on values. And I also put in the lightest lights first.

I tend to work all over the painting, as the inspiration strikes me. You will see in the progress photos, I had the lady facing to the left to start - didn't think it made her part of the family or the work group so changed her to facing into the circle. And I changed the fellow on the far right to have his arm overhead - in a gesture of clearing sweat from his brow.

As I work I ask myself, is there balance, harmony in movement, rhythm, - and finally at each step, what is wrong with this painting? When I feel these are all working - then I work on the final glazing, and small details.

AVAILABLE $300 USD