Working big has been good for me lately. I stretch out a big sheet of canvas, buy paint by the gallon and attack, using not just the tiny little motions of an easel painting but giant full body mark making of all stripes. So far, my max size has been 4ft by 5 ft, which is about the size I have worked years ago on stretched canvas. So when I found a finished piece of canvas measuring 6 ft by 9 ft, I thought this was the opportunity for a truly massive piece. A Hagrid sized painting. I decided to continue working through my Costa Rica sketches as inspiration. Here is how it developed:

Of course such a large work presents some trouble with display, especially in the home. So a little macgyvering and I installed it in the only spot large enough - the living room picture window (with its very convenient curtain rod). I also stumbled upon a happy accident. Hanging in the window, occasionally backlit by the sun, the work was able to change, to cast shadows, to feel like a living garden or jungle, sometimes dark and moody sometimes colorful and bright. I can not wait to experiment with this effect in future works.

with indirect sunlight and light in the room

with the sun shine directly behind, no light in room looking moonlit,

as best I could take from a chair hovering over the piece in the very bright lights of the studio

As a big piece, the detail can get lost, so here are some detail close up shots:

The making of a gigantic painting