I thought the commissioned oil painting of a Giant Sequoia was finished. I photographed it, fixed the photo on Photoshop Junior (because there is no way to hold the camera perfectly aligned with the painting), and even varnished it.
Then I decided to compare it to the one that my customer saw and liked, painted back in 2012.
The darks are darker in this one, and it just looks better.
Back to the easel with my newest Big Tree oil painting, since I can do better, because. . .
Another day at the drawing table, and only 2 photos in progress. Watching this part is a little like watching paint dry, or watching grass grow.
Because of pruning back the shrubs on the left, I needed more photos to show what is behind them. The shrubs on the right are also being pruned in the drawing, so more photos of that side of the house will help fill in some blanks. The very tall valley oak tree on the right is a bit of a mystery too, as is the mass of confusing growth behind it. I can’t figure out the detail on the front door, and the shapes of the windows are confounding me.
A field trip is in order for more photos. Let’s go!
Good thing Jane isn’t in a big hurry for this drawing.
After finishing the 3 small custom pencil drawings of 3 small houses from 3 small photos, my confidence returned to begin the big custom drawing of the big old country house, working from about a dozen big photos, enlarged on my laptop screen in order to see the details clearly, drawing while looking under my big magnifying glass.
Big job. Good thing I love to draw.
These photos represent 2 days of working on the picture.
You can see in the last photo that I pruned the bushes back on the left in order to show more of the structure. It was a little tricky to figure out the size and placement of the window on that segment of newly exposed wall. Working from multiple photos is full of challenges, because I leave behind the security of being able to measure directly from a photo. Instead, I look at one that shows a particular item, put it in the drawing, and realize that I don’t know where it truly belongs in relation to the things that don’t appear in the photo where I got it.
See? Can’t even explain it simply. Guess you’d have to be there.
The goal is believability AND with a piece of custom art, recognizability.
After posting about Seven Big Tree Oil Paintings, it seemed like a good idea to figure out when I painted which one so I could see them in order and decide if I am improving or going the other direction. So, here they are in order.
Interesting – I think the 2 best are the first and the last. So much depends on the quality of the photo, and I don’t have very many to choose from that show the entire tree. But there is also the color variance from photo to photo and tree to tree. As I gain confidence, which happens with experience, I am able to just figure out what colors please me rather than feeling bound to the photo.
If you want a tree like this, the size is 6×18″, the price $165 (plus tax if you live in California). Of course there are larger canvas sizes available (smaller too, but those are for younger eyes and fingers more agile than mine at manipulating paintbrushes). Remember,
(I hope $165 isn’t scary).
Success breeds success. After finishing the two custom pencil drawings, it seemed easy to just finish the third.
Yeppers. Still procrastinating on the giant pencil commission of the big old country house. Productively procrastinating, because I really do like to finish things.
I started out taking photos so I could show you the steps, but then I got so involved that I forgot to stop and take more pictures.
It would have been easier if the tree in the foreground was pruned before the photographer took the shot, but alas, no one was thinking about the fact that someday, some pencil artist might want to know what was behind the branch. I decided it must have been hiding a dormer window.
There are quite a few erasing tools showing up in those 2 progress photos. I used to think that erasing meant I was just an incompetent artist; eventually I have learned to accept it as part of drawing.
Nothing left to procrastinate with, so it is time to become involved with the giant pencil drawing of the big old country house.
The custom pencil drawing of a big old country house was intimidating, so I quickly completed a smaller commissioned pencil drawing. It went so well that I was inspired, even eager*, to begin the second piece in the series of three.
That big window on the left (a sun room?), the shadow cast by the door overhang, the slightly opened window on the right, a hint of stepping stones leading from the drive to the front door, and of course the car in the carport are the details that add charm to this little house. The only change I made was to straighten out the sidewalk.
This was a very satisfying job. Two down, two to go.
*Have you noticed how many people use the word “anxious” when they mean eager?
I began working on the 16×20″ commissioned pencil drawing of the big old country house. It is a challenge, due to combining several views into one scene, and due to the size. It is intimidating, so I decided to warm up to the task by working on the little old houses from the single little old photos.
No people will be included in the drawing. Can’t see ’em, can’t draw ’em.
That was fun and maybe even a little bit easy. Not too easy, because some of it just had to be guessed at. There is a mop drying on the roof, a broom leaning up against the front window, and the handle of a hoe or shovel leaning against the wall. I don’t know what those vines are or what is supporting them. The shingles on the roof were hard until I figured out how to duplicate the pattern. Grass, in case you are interested, is just organized scribbling.
NEXT! I love to draw, particularly architectural subjects. But you knew that, didn’t you?
In case you are just now tuning in, I am making custom art of a big old country house, south of Farmersville in Tulare County, for my new friend Jane and her husband. They chose the angle they like best, and I was so happy that we both liked the same angle.
They were thinking about an oil painting, and chose the size of 16×20″. They also asked if that was a good size to capture all the details, and on this house, there are many many details. Many.
Honesty is the best policy. I showed them a custom 16×20″ oil painting of a house, and said it was not my best work. This meant that although I did the best I could, it wasn’t something that showed the house or my skills very well. The photos I had for that painting weren’t very helpful, so that may have had something to do with it. Indeed, but also everything was just too small for a paintbrush.
I also showed them a custom 24×30″ oil painting of a house, and said that this was a painting I felt proud of. I was not trying to upsell them at all, only to make it clear that I could do a better job on a larger painting.
Then I told them that I do my best detail work in pencil, so if details are what matter the most, then they will be happiest with pencil.
They chose a 16×20″ PENCIL DRAWING!!
Alrightythen (yes, I always think of this as one word), let’s git-‘er-dun!
After going through 40 photos of the big old country house, I organized them by main views with accompanying details, and labeled each photo. I’ve learned that this is a very necessary step if I am going to do the best job possible. (In the olden days, I would take a couple of snapshots with my film camera, get them developed, pick one and then just draw it without even showing the customer first. It is a wonder I had any customers at all.)
I have learned to not overwhelm my customers with too many choices. I have also learned that it is good to show some sketches first. I chose the 2 best options, and began to sketch them. Because Jane and I have a lively texting correspondence as we get to know one another better, I sent her this photo of my sketches in progress.
I was adding color in case she and her husband were going to choose an oil painting over a pencil drawing. The idea of sending the photo was to show her that I was working on her project. I messed up by not telling her the reason I was sending these and that they were not finished.
Jane and her husband were very excited and chose the top view. Wait, what? These aren’t finished. I am so embarrassed to have sent them prematurely. (Texting is a dangerous form of communication).
The good news is that the top view was also my favorite. (The other good news is that Jane laughed when I told her that I was embarrassed.)
Then we had to decide pencil drawing or oil painting.
Tomorrow, oh patient (and impatient) Blog Readers!
A friend introduced me to his cousin. We became instant friends. Let’s call her Jane, because that is her name.
My friend and Jane’s shared grandparents had a wonderful home in the country south of Farmersville (Yes, that is the name of a town here in Tulare County. Wanna make something of it?) They both thought it would make a great drawing or painting, so I went there to take some photos.
I love the style of this house! I took many photos, from every angle possible.
Want to guess which one I liked best?
Want to guess which one Jane and her husband liked best? (They are my customers for the project.)
Want to guess which medium they chose?
“Medium” means the substance from which I will make the art – pencil or oil paint, in this case.