The Evolution of "Festival Sunset Dance", Part 1

I told you I'd share about my process for my finished art for The Festival at Sandpoint.
These are the first two studies I did, using my references from the photo shoot with my young friends who danced and jumped in the evening light.
(left) "Sundown Dance"
Original oil on hardboard
10"x8" unframed
©2011 Diana Moses Botkin
SOLD
(left) "Afternoon Dance"
Original oil on hardboard
8"x6" unframed
©2011 Diana Moses Botkin
SOLD


I had envisioned dancers at sunset near Lake Pend Oreille in Sandpoint, which is the setting for The Festival.

The first study was pretty much what was in my mind but it seemed like too many dancers once I painted it. So, I tried another study with a smaller group of dancers and a simpler afternoon sky, with more focus on the dancers.
For the third study in the series, at left, I wanted to see how it would look with the jumping dancers.
(left)
"Jumpin' Jive"
Original oil on canvas
10"x8" unframed
©2011 Diana Moses Botkin

That title, by the way, is a reference to an amazing music and dance number in the 1943 movie, Stormy Weather. You can see the greatest pair of acrobatic tap dancers of their day (or perhaps any day), the Nicholas Brothers. Enjoy their athletic choreography, leaping and dancing over and through Cab Calloway's orchestra, at this link.

None felt quite right for The Festival art, although they were fun paintings. Stay tuned to see where I went next with my idea.

By the way, these studies are for sale. Please contact me if you are interested in owning any of them.