As I
mentioned in my painting, "Pittsburgh Steel Mill," I had wanted to do a
painting of the fiery interior of a steel mill but could not find a good
subject for a watercolor painting. Recently I came across a great
artist named Henry E. Jones (henryejones.com) whose watercolor painting I
thought I could use. His is much more dramatic and his use of a wet
paper is excellent.
I dedicate this one to my Uncle George Klipa who
passed away on September 21, 2019. He worked for many years for U.S. Steel in
Pittsburgh--spending many years at the Edgar Thompson Plant. When I was in 2nd Grade, he gave my father and me a tour of
his steel mill. No painting can capture the feel of being there in
person. The deafeningly loud sounds of the huge machines; the acrid
smell of the fire, coal and steel searing your nostrils; and the burning
hot temperature on your skin while you look at white hot steel--all
combine to overwhelm the senses. |