Monday, August 31, 2015

BIG Brushes... Let the Dance Begin! - Part Two

While a full sheet of white plywood... glistening in the morning light and gaping back at you blankly does indeed leave one feeling a bit overwhelmed at the onset, there is a certain sense of excitement when there exist such a large space to work on. The planning adds substantial comfort as well. All that remains is to jump into the fray using that plan to execute... and the most joy for me... is that the attack will involve bigger brushes and strokes throughout the entire first stage... the lay in.

The first stage was to transfer the grid design from the smaller paper format to the four by eight plywood sheet. That done... I quickly added a very rough addition of the compositional elements in pencil... just to make sure that the composition was balanced. I quickly jumped into laying down an acrylic burnt sienna "hardening" of the pencil mapping to allow me a confident visual pathway to begin applying the first acrylic pigment in the painting process.



These are the instruments of joy... making big strokes that quickly cover eliminate that white blur... consolidating one's inner landscape vision without pressure or a plodding pace. It is indeed a form of dance for me personally - pure freedom of the eye ... hand and heart in unison.

Day One - Mapping


One can feel secure at this very juncture in the process... that a landscape does indeed now exist... even at this early stage. Passing visitors... some who know the islands well could identify the scene even from this rough beginning. If you look closely, you can see a very slight wash of transparent burnt sienna even tints the white sky area. This will help get rid of the distracting glare which direct sunlight on the piece creates later in the morning. 

This mapping exercise required less than fifteen minutes to pout in place. I allowed it to dry the rest of the day and overnight. This allowed me to look at at correct areas that seemed incorrect before I began laying in pigment washes.

First Layers of Paint


This jpeg reveals the first session, lasting about an hour during which I quickly washed in transparent layers of pigment... tinting the drawing sufficiently enough to reveal a definite direction for fuller colour and light. It is still very much unfinished... but it surely adds one a vantage point to judge the next phase. 

I left it to dry completely overnight... and again to sit and look at it more closely later in the day when onlookers would not be about. Having people watch has never bothered me. But because the acrylics dry so very quickly in the summer warmth... it is imperative to work quickly and without delay in an attempt to preserve precious and costly palettes of paint. Some folks are unaware of that fact and want to discuss. I politely set down the ground rules and describe my problem... in the hoipes that they understand my dilemma. A deaf ear works... if they persist.


A Trap Avoided


My progress in reaching this stage so quickly so encouraged me that it led me to quickly into complacency. I had become carried away dangerously... by the sirens of my inner creative spirit. I was so overcome by my "achievement" that I had lost hold of my rudder of reality. I had launched into that empty void of white space confidently... but too cockily. 

But a passing conversation with a friend builder Chris... who knows Zavicon intimately brought me crashing back to earth... feeling crest-fallen. Chris is a puckish and playful,, but knowledgeable "man-about-the-river.. or "River Rat" who loves to wordsmith and "play" in conversation. Rather than the expected pat on the back.. he quizzically offered, "What are you painting today Bruce?" It was his sly way of gently inferring... "That's not the Zavicon I know. You're off base friend!"

I immediately came back to the house and went through the numerous references from every angle that I had taken. Here again, multiple references though not used primarily can provide useful information and tools for understanding the subject that is hidden in the chosen viewing point.

The problem was the actual main house. I had misread... and misinterpreted what was hidden by the pine trees. I had read roof extension to the right... rather than double dormers one above the other an that bit into the interior rather than just out as is usual and a screened sun porch that bit into the interior of the house rather than jut out as is the usual case. "See.... don't look!"... I had broken one of my own rues of practice.

Here is the corrected version (which Chris chucked at)... and gave two thumbs up!



THis jpeg captures the changes made... the final lay in... thanks Chris!... and the first day of the fine tuning and adding of detail. Now the real fun and joy arrives. I will try to control the smaller brushwork... to maintain the present loose and "painterly" appearance of the piece.

A great way to send August on its way. A final extra glance back (from ashore) offered by this mural... to departing summer island folk... at their "Island Heritage."

I am greatly blessed...

Stray tuned for the finale later in the week. I hope to wrap it all up by week's end. Fingers crossed for the good weather that is forecast.


Good Painting!!... to All!!!!

10 comments:

  1. Good painting, indeed!!! I cannot imagine tackling something this large but you are showing us how it's done, Bruce. I hope the weather holds and you complete this beauty in your time frame, to set September on her way!

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  2. Hi there Rhonda!... Yup!... Beautifully BIG... wonderful to step up to and paint!

    There is a freedom in larger formats which sets loose the creative spirit... normally confined within small areas and the parameters of thinking that a smaller tight format demands.

    Great fun! Stay tuned...

    Good Painting!
    Warmest regards,
    Bruce

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  3. And what do I pick up here? That you paint in acrylics? I don't know why but I always thought it was oils that you work in, Bruce! Where have I been? LoL Well, I do know I especially love your watercolors too!

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  4. Good morning Sherry!... You had it right!... My usual and preferred medium of choice is oils. I am working using acrylics (not my strength or choice) because the mural will remain outside and the polymer based pigments are less affected by weather and UV rays.

    The watercolour and ink process is another story... for travellin'. No hassles at customs. HA HA!!!

    Thanks for dropping by and for your continued interest and support!

    Enjoy these last days of summer!
    Warmest regards,
    Bruce

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  5. It is wonderful that you are sharing the entire process of your big project with us - and I am fascinated. Thank you so much. I love how confidently you approach the challenge. Can't wait to see the finished piece and I have no doubt your friend will be overjoyed!

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  6. Thanks Susan!... My river challenge is somewhat the same as your ballerina marathon... a lot of sweating and planning. Both projects reflect the passion that we have for our subjects. That is truly what one's art should aim for and be built around.

    Thank you for your visit and encouraging thoughts and comments.

    Let the dance continue!

    Good Painting!
    Warmest regards,
    Bruce

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  7. Hi Bruce. Even if it hadn't been more correct, I think the repainted version of the house has a more pleasing shape. I suppose with such a well-known subject, at such a large scale, it just had to be right didn't it!

    All the best,
    Keith

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  8. Good morning Keith!.... BINGO!... Right on the $$$... as usual. The larger the scale and the more iconic the image or edifice... the more care that must be taken to be "correct".

    B--- S--- does not baffle brains... especially those of of the builders and island tradesmen who frequent or pass them daily.

    The same holds true for boat shapes. These are specific to the boat building traditions on the river... or anywhere else I have lived and painted. More work to be done yet on the foreground skiff and figure anchoring the lower right of the panel.

    Stay tuned....

    Thanks for dropping by again Keith... with your good critical eye and brain!

    Good Painting!
    Warmest regards,
    Bruce

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  9. Looking good Bruce, looking good.

    I'm sure you would have spotted the adjustment needed the following day. It's hard to see the wood for the trees when you are in the 'zone' but a short break to rest the eyes would have sorted it. (Saying that when I painted the mural in our little 'uns room I knew there was something wrong and it took three months for me to spot the three flippered turtle. Doh! I left Tripod as he was to see if anyone else would see it - not so far.)

    I hope your shoulder and back sorts itself soon.
    Best wishes.

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  10. Good morning Lisa!... Yup!... "forest for the trees"... "in the zone"... sort of akin to "driving while distracted" - can be fatal. Not a good practice!

    Sometimes a "Tripod" provides an incentive for folks to search the composition... therefore a good thing... best left included ! HA HA!!!

    Good Painting... and Printing... enjoyed my visit earlier this morning!
    Warmest regards,
    Bruce

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