The beginning of the second

I have taken the first few steps toward creating my second painting. There have been some decisions made and there are some decisions yet to be made. But the first step has been taken- I have created a 'toned ground'. See below ...



On the right is a blank, white canvas, which I have placed there in order to demonstrate what I have done by toning the ground. The canvas on the left is the beginning of the piece - the 'toned ground'. In the middle of the two is the picture on which I am going to base the painting. This is the only time I'm going to post this picture here (or anywhere). The reason is that this picture is the BASIS for the painting - it will give me direction - but the painting may wind up looking very unlike this picture. I just thought it might be informative to see what I'm starting from.

So I have made two decisions - to publish the picture and to tone the ground with acrylic paint. Another decision I've made is to do the work in oil, not acrylic. The underpainting, which will be next, will be in acrylic, but that's as far as acrylic is going to go in this piece. It's easier to work in oil - and I think it takes more skill than I have right now to work well in acrylic.

As far as decisions which have yet to be made, they involve some technical stuff like 'where am I going to place the horizon line?', 'what elements of the picture am I going to include in the painting?' and 'where are the elements I'm going to include going to be placed?'. Then, of course, there's the decision regarding style - I am going to paint this with heavy, textured strokes (Impasto) - the more impressionist style, or I am going to paint this with thinner, less textured paint in a more realistic style? The subject would seem to lend itself to either style. I'm going to have to think about that. But not very long.

This, by the way, is an element of the first painting which was left out for the sake of simplicity. I suppose it bears mentioning that the first painting is not done yet. I need a break. I will finish it when the time is right.

Comments, as always, are welcome.

And even more changes

Well, I think we're done playin' around with the clouds now and except for a little (very minor) detail work, the mountain will remain unchanged. The green hills across the bay still need work and there's some minor work that still needs to be done to the various reflections and tones in the still water of the harbor.

See below .....



You may have noticed a little change in the road. It isn't done yet, but this new direction is truer to the original photo and I feel more comfortable now, working toward this end, than I did when I first started the painting.

I still don't have a 'style'. I am still finding my way through the maze of different ways to represent reality in paint. Or the impression of reality. Each bend and twist in the maze is a learning point. Hopefully, the next piece will be a little easier - not in concept or execution, but in establishing and maintaining direction, form and style.

back on the right track ...

Okay. The clouds have been stripped off and redone. The mountain has been redone -and will acquire more detail as the paint dries to the touch. See below ...



I thought I would have to re-seal the canvas, but it wasn't necessary. I was able to remove the textures in the painted surface that were bothering me and so I was able to get further than I thought. It won't be necessary to publish a REALLY ugly pic of the painting. More tomorrow.

Still looking for that cigar

Well, this time I've really done it. I've started down a road that there is likely no turning back from. Not without starting all over, and I don't think I could do that. See Below...



On the other hand, it might be possible to retreat from here - but to do that, I have to stop right here and make up my mind whether this is the right way to go. So anybody with an opinion is more than welcome, at this point, to weigh in on the decision.

closer, closer ....

Okay, first let me say that I am not completely happy with this particular change. What is does, though, is establish a direction. The only change here is in the clouds, but it is a big change nonetheless. No - for certain- I am not done messin' with the clouds yet. See Below ....



The clouds on the far left need to be at the same level as the main body of cloud, central to the piece. The cloud body above the low line of whitish clouds needs more definition and a color change to a greyer blue-white.

But I have established the direction that that portion of the painting is going to take. I like this direction better - I'm just not in love with the execution, so far.

Closer, but still no cigar ...

Well, there's been a number of changes to the piece. The first cut at the reflection of the quay in the water has been made, and the color of the hull has been altered to reflect the actual color in the photograph (or at least, we're bending in that direction). See below ...



There is so much left to do. The Hull still needs work, the tone of the quay reflection will probably need to change, the road hasn't even begun to see the changes that are to come and the cloud bank is going to change. I've decided to pull the clouds down behind the mountain and, perhaps, create an effect where the clouds are just beginning to creep around the sides of the mountain. Other than that, things are going along just fine .... I really don't want to be one of those people that doesn't know when to quit, but I have something I'm shooting for and I'm not there yet. As always, comments are welcome.

Finally, an update (it still ain't done)...

It has been soooooo long since I've gotten downstairs to work on my painting. I have no excuse but that I have been busy and I think I've been a little afraid to touch it. I have no teacher now, to fall back on, to ask advice of and to get feedback from. I am on my own - at least for now.

I have done most of the last of the work on the boat - I have finished the superstructure and I'm not sure how to do anything constructive to the hull, so I think I'll leave it alone - for now. I have added some rocks (and reflections of those rocks) to the shallow end of the harbor and a small black sand beach at the bow of the boat. See below ...



What I am left with now is the need to finish the reflections in the harbor water - the quay is next, and possibly, last. After that, I need to paint proper foliage along the borders of and down the middle of the dirt/muddy road. Beyond that, there is the need to correct a few minor errors/omissions and the piece will be done. I feel I'm getting close now and for the most part, I am happy with the piece. What I have done here, and learned here, will inform my next piece, which is also based on the same photo that inspired this one - an element left out of this piece because I felt it made the piece too complicated. And, for anyone who cares to, comments are welcome.