Monday, December 10, 2012

Touch Down!... "The Eagle Has Landed" !

No... this isn't a football play-by-play, but is has been a bit of a "deep space" adventure... in that that blank white canvas shown on the last post is now filled... and the commission/mission is completed! All that remains is a few dots n' dashes... a few hearty strokes in the foreground and a signature to finalize the process. The presentation to the client was completed yesterday... and she was thrilled with the result. Thrilled enough to hand me the agreed upon fee without hesitation. I will deliver it (secretly) to her place of work so that she can carry out her very own Christmas gifting.

Commissions never fail to be an awkward challenge for "Me" personally... I simply feel that the underlying reason for making paintings for "Me" has to come from within me. It has always been a vehicle for personal expression of deep feelings... or a discovery of something that I have seen or felt along the way... that I feel a compulsive need to record and to share. While I thoroughly enjoyed the whole process of discovery to arrive at the final result ... I truthfully don't feel the same level of accomplishment that I do in the completion of a plein air painting... which pits me against the elements... or the completion of a larger studio painting which has "hung around" merely as a "short hand" idea fore decades perhaps in the form of brief notations and a series of "thought outlines." These are what fuel my creative spirit... and give me the most satisfaction.

All of that being said, the resulting commission gives pleasure in this case... because I will share a part of my friend's loving and thoughtful Christmas gifting to her spouse. Through her kindness and love and my brushes... his childhood home, now long disappeared forever... will in a way reappear for "Him" unexpectedly. Because I "did did my homework"... with due diligence and offered my best  effort... "He" will be able to return ... "Home" again . Kowing the personal peace and the joy that coming Home  to The Thousand Islands has afforded Deb and I both... the thought of having helped to facilitate that for him as well... gives me immense pleasure and satisfaction.

I am at Peace and am deeply blessed... My Christmas tree needs no other gifts under it!

The Painting Process... Start to Finish
 Day#1
 Playing with burnt sienna washes... feeling my way around establishing the placement of the basic structure on the blank canvas

 "Hardening" the structure of the central element... the house with vine charcoal in preparation for laying in colour

Day#2
 Simple blocking in of colour of sky... ground and important house details with no real emphasis on final values, drawing etc.

Establishing a stronger prominence for the homestead... by adding sills and proportion to the facade and defining of desired sky effects

Day #3
The final push towards adding finish across the entire canvas... adjusting shapes, details and  colour values.

"Run way" is in sight..... landing gear is down!

 

Day# 4- Touch down on the tarmac... taxing carefully to a stop... Mission accomplished!



This is the finished version of the painting entitled "Junetown Road Homestead" - oil on canvas 14 x18 inches

Merry Christmas Mel and Joan... from The Paint Box Gallery!


Hope that my follower/ passengers enjoyed the flight... and that you will "Fly United" with me again SOON!!!... HA HA!!! ... Just couldn't resist!

Good Painting ... to ALL!!!!






12 comments:

  1. Love it! Another success! Thanks for sharing!

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  2. This just came out beautifully, Bruce!

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  3. HI there Wendy!... Thank you for visiting and for leaving the encouraging comment!

    Pressure's off! HA HA!!

    Good Painting!
    Warmest regards,
    Bruce

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  4. Good Morning Sherry!...Thanks for your encouraging comment!

    Good Painting!
    Warmest regards,
    Bruce

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  5. Thanks for a highly enjoyable flight, Bruce!
    Love the outcome just as the client undoubtedly will!
    The painting has a real sense of "presence".
    Well done, Captain! :)

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  6. Hi there Dean!... Glad that you enjoyed the flight!

    I too share your feeling that the house displays a sense of "presence." So did the client... she absolutely loved it! I deliver it to her (secretly) tomorrow... along with my "improved" version of her photo reference.

    "All is well ... that ends well"!

    Good Painting!
    Warmest regards,
    Bruce

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  7. This is so beautifully painted Bruce, and isn't it wonderful when the client loves the piece!? Thank you for the WIP of the painting...I always enjoy seeing the "process".

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  8. Hi there Hilda!... Good to hear from you!

    It is always a big risk to accept a commission... but when it is successful it is a leap forward to satisfy more than one's own goals and reasons for painting a subject!

    Glad that you enjoyed watching the piece emerge!

    Good Painting!
    Warmest regards,
    Bruce

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  9. Hi Bruce,

    Oh my, you have painted this beautifully, Mel and Joan, will be so very pleased. Mission accomplish Bruce, never doubted for a minute that this painted would turn out magnificently.

    All the best to you,
    Joan

    ps. love seeing the process, I always get so much from seeing your work in progress. Thank you for sharing.

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  10. HGood Evening Joan!... Thanks for dropping by and for adding your gracious comments! It is always my pleasure to share processes with other artists... a great way for us all to learn from each other!

    I think that mel will be very moved by Joan's gift... and I am honoured to share in that gifting!

    Good Painting!
    Warmest regards,
    Bruce

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  11. Hi Bruce, I'm glad the painting was well-received, not that I had any doubts!

    All the best,
    Keith

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  12. Good Morning Keith... Two relieved people... the client and me!

    Always a good feeling when the flight is over... and wheels are fully... on the ground! HA HA!!!

    Thank you for checking in... and for offering your supportive words!

    Good Painting!
    Warmest regards,
    Bruce

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