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.

Don't panic - it ain't done yet ...

Okay, the most recent changes are documented in the picture below ... Please read the accompanying text before you decide you hate it.



Okay - a)the boat has changed. b)The road has changed. c)The clouds have changed.
That said, the boat isn't done (not by a long shot), the road isn't done - it still needs proper foliage on the borders and now, in the middle, as well - and the clouds MAY be done, I'm not sure whether I really like them now or not.

The harbor water needs more work - there needs to be a beach established at the bow end of the boat (black, coarse sand) to establish the fact that the water in the harbor is actually quite shallow. There is nothing, at this point, to demonstrate the shallowness of the water. Plus, there are rocks which poke through the surface of the water, which also help to show how shallow the water is, that have not been painted in yet. And, of course, the reflection of the quay has not been painted either.

So yes, at the moment it looks kinda ugly. But, I hope, it will get better.

progress and fixes to be made

Last night, as I was packing up my supplies to go home, my painting took a dive off the support I use to take it from place to place and created a scar on the face of the painting. I was able to mostly repair it last night after I got home, which is why I didn't post a picture last night. Current condition is noted below ...



I am going to work on this guy tonight, so if all stars align properly and the keepers of karma give me a break, I will post another shot of the painting tonight. There has been some progress made here, and there are some repairs that still need to be made, but I think I will be able to make more progress tonight. I think I may be able to work on the reflection of the quay in the harbor. I also need to work on the boat - the supestructure needs better definition and the hull needs to be shaped better, especially along the waterline.

Stay tuned.

Last class tonight ...

Tonight is the last of the current series of classes at North Central College with Marilyn. I still haven't made any additional progress on my painting, in preparation for tonight's class. I think I'm afraid to touch it without supervision - which is stupid, given that the goals of the piece are clearly laid out now and I really don't have to worry about the piece going off in a direction I haven't planned for. Now I won't be able to finish this piece until the week between Christmas and New Years Day. I think what I may have to do is start the underpainting for the next painting - perhaps that will force me to finish this one.

next to last class ...

Class tonight was, as always, great! Very informative. And I feel I've made some real progress on my painting. The boat is taking shape and the water in the harbor has begun to acquire the reflections that will lend the realism that the painting requires. The water in the bay has also taken new coloring and texturing that make it look more 'real' than it did before. See below.



I have a substantial amount of work to do, still. The hills and clouds and sky above and beyond the hills all require work, there are finishing touches to apply to the road and the water in the harbor needs the reflection of the quay. But I'm a lot closer now - I'm beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel, so to speak. I would really like to be able to finish this painting at the next class. In order to do that, however, I am going to have to force myself to find time to paint between now and next Wednesday. I think I can, I think I can, I think I can.

I am also beginning to see this for what it is - a very amateurish depiction of the scene. But then again, that's just what I am - an amateur - and this is my first painting. A year from now, were I to paint this scene again, it would certainly look much different than it will when it's done. But, that said, I am satisifed with this one (so far) - knowing that I have done the best that I know how to do.

That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

Further updates as they become possible.

Plans for tonight ...

I've been in Arizona for most of the last week. My father-in-law passed away and the needs of family dominated. I am home, now, while my wife remains in AZ waiting for the funeral on
Friday.

Tonight is the next-to-last class under Marilyn. I need to fix the boat so that it is rendered properly. Once that is done I can move on to the finishing details of the piece - I hope that by class next week I will be ready to put the final touches in place and, therefore, be ready to start the next painting. I know what the next painting will be - as a matter of fact, I know what the painting after THAT one will be, as well. I have a backlog already. But I'm not going to hurry anything. To paraphrase Orson Welles, I will paint no painting before its time.