First, I did a painting on site in about 20 minutes. It simply is done to help me capture the light and first impressions so when I get back to the studio I can remember what attracted me to the subject. I also took plenty of photos for reference.Of course when I got home I was ready to jump right to it but my first attempt didn't get too far.
Using a canvas with a rejected painting on it (probably an omen) I started the underpainting. I thought the square format would work well... but after I got this far I rejected it. The swing was too crowded and the layout left little room for the viewer to look deep back into the woods.So I scrapped it and started again.
Here's the new composition. I like how the composition gives you space to walk back into the woods with your eyes.
I remembered the warm glow of the light in the pine forest so I started with a very warm underpainting.
Working from the top left to right, I have to keep talking to myself..."keep the colors muted and the paint thin"
I think I kept the darks thin enough..... we'll see how I did as the painting develops
Click on the image to enlarge the paintingNorth Woods Painting in Progress
18"x24"
oil on masonite
Here's where I am at today. I really like the light in the center of the painting. I have a long way to go but so far so good.
8 comments:
Peter, this is just gorgeous! There are so many things I like, the cool tree in the left foreground, the grouping of rock and foliage on the right, and certainly the swing and the shaft of light below it. There is so much interest for the eye to discover. You are getting quite comfortable with the difficult task of painting woods and somehow able to simplify all that detail. Kudos to you!
I wish I could go there right now with a cup of coffee! Swings are a wonderful subject. I look forward to seeing how you finish it off as it's really a welcoming picture.
I really love the pincushion moss by the stumps in the foreground. I have a friend who just loves pincushion moss and stops to admire them along the path. This painting is already very inviting.
Lizzy
Thank you so much for sharing the process. Seeing the final painting is wonderful, but seeing it along the way is truly a gift to those of us who are also working on our processes. I'm sure I speak for many when I say Thank you, Thank you!
Tonya
Peter - every step you photgraphed looked great. I love watching the prodess - thanks for posting it.
I smelled pine needles when I enlarged the last stage.
Really spectacular emergence of space! Your handling of light and textures is wonderful. So fun to watch you develop this. Thank you for showing the stages. I am looking forward to the finished piece.
I think this piece really shows the overriding power of design. This looks good at every stage and each stage could stand on its own as a completed work.
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