Playing Hockey with Dad

I go for a lot of walks. One day in winter this man was playing hockey with his two boys. I asked if I could photograph them and they agreed. I emailed them all the photos and chose this one to paint. I adjusted the composition considerably to focus on the boy's hand as he thrusts it forward just after slapping the puck. To ensure maximum impact the painting is large, 36x48. The challenge was to make his hand seem to pop right out of the canvas. I did it by using the red artifacts in his glove that the digital camera added. It also helps that the stripe in his coat starts with his face, which is the first thing most people look at. I had to tone down that face because it looked rather clownish and I just wanted it to look like th boy was concentrating. The purple stripe was also an artifact added by the digital camera. I included it because it gives a platform for the figure to thrust forward out of the plane of the canvas. Another challenge was to paint in a quick impressionistic manner rather than the highly detailed technique I have been pushing for. I felt the need to have fun again. I also wanted the paint technique to express the active nature of the subject manner.