Up Close: Patricia Doyle’s Voluntario

A 5 ft. by 9 ft. commissioned painting, Voluntario captures a dynamic Santa Barbara coast on an expansive scale.

Doyle’s thinly layered acrylic washes are applied with big brushes. She uses her full arm to create parcels of color that match the scope of the canvas.

The layers build up, creating depth and atmosphere. Ocean and blue sky emerge from the morning haze.

Segments imply changing light and color as the day progresses. Time lapses from morning to afternoon in a single, monumental frame.

Lines streak and bolt from one area to the next, artifacts of the changing day, uniting the panorama.