Rod Tryon created this street painting, 'Variation of Danseuse assise' at Artisphere 2009 in South Carolina this past weekend. The image is based on Edgar Degas' Danseuse assise or Seated Dancer. Degas' eyesight was worsening as he aged, so he used bright colors in his ballet themed paintings during this period. Rod used the same bright colors in this street painting, which was visible from the Reedy bridge, and caught a lot of people's attention.
To make this street painting Rod's own variation, he added a frame around the piece and has the dancer holding on to the frame as if she may step out of it. The shading around the frame gives it additional dimension. This 10' x 12' street painting took about 20 hours to complete or two and a half days. Chalk pastel on concrete sidewalk. Following is a series of photos of the creation process of 'Variation of Danseuse assise' street painting by Rod Tryon.
Rod starts by sketching his image from a print of the Degas painting. Then he applies color, starting on the dancer's face at the top of the street painting.
Rod working on the dancer's arm.
Working his way down the street painting.
Rod uses a lot of different colors and a lot of texture to get the look he wants.
Blending chalk at the base of the piece. Thousands of people stopped by over the three days of the festival to watch the artist in action and take pictures of the artwork.
Rod working on the frame around the dancer.
Rod Tryon and his beautiful 'Variation of Danseuse assise' street painting. The public loved his street painting with it's many bright colors, layered textures and the addition of the dimensional frame.
