This work started with me doing tests on various canvas stretching techniques followed by different variations of gesso application. Not wanting to waste a canvas, despite the wear of experimentation, I opted to interpret one of my favorite NASA photos of the sexiest rocket (missile, actually) ever. As the size was 9 x 16, which is uncommon for art but matches the HD television ratio, this image was well suited for a less square-ish canvas than usual.

Since I’d just finished a realism canvas done with brushwork, I wanted to again play with painting knives. Except for the aforementioned gesso applications, there was no brushwork on this painting. A consequence was that the texture made photographing this very problematic, but that was eventually solved.