Summer Fun 1966 - 1967

Gil Elvgren created this summery scene, probably in the 50s or 60s, with oil paint on canvas. The whole thing has this warm, hazy glow, doesn’t it? The colors are vibrant, the reds and yellows especially popping against the blues of the sky and sea. Look at how Elvgren builds up the forms with these soft, almost blurry strokes. You can almost feel the heat radiating off the canvas. The paint isn't too thick, but it's definitely there, giving the surface a gentle texture. I can imagine him, maybe with some sketches, starting with the basic shapes and then slowly adding detail, refining the curves of the figure, the glint in the dog’s eye. What was he thinking as he painted? Was he imagining his own summer fun, or just trying to capture that feeling for us? The way he renders light and shadow gives everything a three-dimensional feel. It reminds me a little of Norman Rockwell and other artists who could tell a whole story in a single image. Artists are always riffing off each other, across time, and across different sensibilities.