Two Oil Painting Commissions

When there is work to be done, I’d rather get it done than postpone it. Someone has described people like me as “precrastinators” rather than procrastinators.

Commission #1 – Kaweah Colony blacksmith shop

This mess on canvas is becoming the Kaweah Colony’s blacksmith shop. The background doesn’t show in the photo, so I went to the site where it used to be until the flood of 1997 took it out.  The camera battery was dead, so I drew the shape of the background hill on tissue paper laid over the photo.

img_4979The customer requested autumn coloring. I’ll figure it out. . . layer by layer.
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Commission #2 – Oak Grove Bridge

Some folks bought this painting of the Oak Grove Bridge as a gift. #1576 Oak Grove Bridge XVI

They decided they want one for themselves, so I am painting another one. This is the painting on the cover of the sold out 2017 calendar. I saved one for myself, something I haven’t always done in the past. Good thing, because it is helping me, along with the photo, of course.

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Forgive Us Our Trespasses

Sometimes when I need to get photos or see stuff, I trespass. Been doing it my whole life, I confess. Forgive me my trespasses. . .

Are these the same two sycamores as in the sepia photo from 1996?
Are these the same two sycamores as in the sepia photo from 1996?
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These 2 sycamores have more space between them, but is was 20 years ago when this was taken.

Recently I went trespassing up the North Fork of the Kaweah, looking for the site where the Kaweah blacksmith shop sat. I have a photo from 1996, but the flood of 1997 probably changed the scene. Besides removing the blacksmith shop, it probably changed the route of the river there.

Why does it matter if I have a photo? Because I can’t tell if there are hills behind or if the river should show a bit or what to fill in with between the sycamore trees. If I can’t see it, I can’t paint it. Very well, that is.

Empty canvas, upside down photo.
Empty canvas, upside down photo.
No thanks, Samson, I don't need any help. Doesn't he look sweet? He isn't.
No thanks, Samson, I don’t need any help. Doesn’t he look sweet? He isn’t.
Building a painting probably isn't as scary as making sausage, but it certainly is daunting.
Building a painting probably isn’t as scary as making sausage, but it certainly is daunting. Hard to believe that things begin this rough, but yeppers, that’s the way I paint.

New Oil Painting With Help

One of the benefits of participating in bazaars, boutiques and festivals is that I meet new people. Sometimes this results in commissions or new drawing students. The Senior League Holiday Bazaar brought me this new oil painting commission.

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Photo from customer’s phone

Oh boy, there’s a challenge! When the customer explained that he had taken this photo in the Three Rivers History Museum, I knew I’d receive some good help.

I emailed Museum Man, who promptly removed the photo from the frame, scanned it at a high resolution and emailed it to me!

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The customer told me about this little building. It was the blacksmith shop for the Kaweah Colony, and it was on property that he now owns. In 1997, a flood took it away.

We discussed colors, and he and his wife decided it would suit them better in full color rather than sepia tones. They chose the fall season, which seems right based on all the sycamore leaves on the ground.

To be continued. . .

Painting on a Bungee Cord

 

No, my painting isn’t suspended from a bridge. It just returned to me for a minor detail.

back again

Mrs. Customer asked if I would put the tiny white lines in the windows because her husband wanted them there. I sighed, and said, “I was hoping you wouldn’t notice!” Then I told her to smack her husband with the back of her hand for me. After that, I added the little lines.

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I like happy customers, and didn’t mind at all once it stopped being 108 degrees out. The swamp cooler in the painting workshop can’t cope with that sort of temperature.

Neither can I.

P.S. I may have added a few more details, brightened up a rock or two, straightened an edge, added a blade of grass. . . 

 

 

More Paintings in Place

“Painting” singular, in place, is more accurate. Yesterday I showed you paintings hanging in friends’ homes, friends who collect my art specifically, or collect the art of local artists in general. Some buy it because they love my work and then they become friends, some buy it because they love me.

It’s nice to be loved, and it is nice to have my work loved.

Now, the reason for today’s post:

Before:IMG_2854

After: IMG_2856

Beautiful room, pretty cool painting!IMG_2858

There was a photo of me standing on the hearth next to the painting, but I looked fat, wrinkled, and slightly overwrought. So, we’ll settle for the painting in place.

This is the commissioned oil painting of a Three Rivers home. It was privilege to be chosen to paint this. It was a little bit too hard for me, but it is good to be challenged and to push through the difficulties. The homeowners were a delight to work with.

Thank you, C & S!!

Three Rivers House Commission, Finished?

Is the oil painting commission of a Three Rivers house finished yet?

These are some close photos of detail that I added to the painting.

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Step back a bit for the whole view, including the beginning of sycamore leaves. “The beginning” meaning the start of the leafing out of the tree. When all these other things are in bloom, the sycamore is barely showing. That’s why we can peek through its branches and see poppies on the hillsides.

IMG_2803Now I have turned it on its side so I can paint both the bottom and the top of the canvas.

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Am I finished with this painting? Is the painting finished with me?

Time will tell. . . that’s how my dad used to say it. I like “more will be revealed in the fullness of time”.

And if I am finished, then it needs a signature, a really good official photo, and a coat of spray varnish.

 

Who is the Boss of this Painting?

Can you see any changes or improvements in this oil painting, a commission of a house in Three Rivers?

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I keep painting, but I don’t know if it is making any noticeable improvements. A little dab here, a little lighter there, make this darker, straighten out that edge. . . am I just licking the canvas??

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A dear friend suggested a few changes in the hills and background trees. She was right. The changes are an improvement. More may be required.

A window now has a frame.

The gravel path on the right has changed color.

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Here is what I think remains to be done:

  1. the right end of the house
  2. grow the sycamore
  3. put texture into the gravel path on the right, just some in the closest areas in the sunlight
  4. build the archway
  5. push the hills back farther
  6. lighten the porch post on the left
  7. tighten up the rocks near the archway and add growies
  8. add another umbrella

Sometimes I make these lists, begin an area, and then discover a whole new place to work on.

I thought I was the boss of this painting, but it seems to be the boss of me.

Three Rivers House In Spring Oil Painting

The saga of the commissioned oil painting of a house in Three Rivers in spring continues. (I know that was too many prepositional phrases but how else can I ‘splain this??)

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I made progress on the landscaping last time. This is an immensely satisfying project, because there are so many different areas, colors, shapes and textures.

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Weird, but true. Sometimes I have to turn the painting so my hand can move the correct direction. I haven’t learned to use a maul stick and am not interested as long as I can rotate the canvas (it’s a bit of a problem on a mural).

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More tightening up of the architecture was needed. Those windows! They will need to be revisited a few more times before we are finished here. “We”? ‘Twould be nice to have a little help on those more difficult parts, but I’m speaking in the royal We here.

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Can you see any improvement? The gravel walkway is looking more gravely, although in person it still resembles a stream.

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Hey! A tree grows in Three Rivers. Can you see the beginnings of the sycamore on the far right? I have replanted the tree since in the photos it only has these non-sequitor-heil-hitler-arm-like branches shooting into the scene. Unacceptable.

What to do When You Are Stuck

 

Ever get stuck on a project? This blog post offers a little bit of advice (or perhaps it is just common sense.)

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Return to the source. This helps you see if you have all the facts.

I took a field trip to the house to figure out the details that were hidden in the photos. I drew up some rudimentary floor plan outlines and took more photos. A bonus was that I got to visit with Mrs. Customer, a truly delightful person. She is giving me so much leeway on this painting – an artist’s dream for a commissioned painting.

(The photos I took are boring unless you are the one doing the painting, so I’ll spare you.)

Immediately apply any new information you just learned. (‘Fo’ you forget it!)

After some careful consideration, I moved the chimney over some more. Then I made a few scooting changes on the house – subtle but necessary. The paint was still wet in those areas from the previous session, so I took my own advice about what to do when I feel stuck.

Find a new area to work on.

When I feel stuck, I look at the project carefully to determine if there is any area in which I can make progress. (When I had lots of kids in drawing lessons who all needed help at the same time, I would tell them to sharpen their pencils or erase their smeary margins while they waited.)

LANDSCAPING! I can do this!

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I raised up the easel in order to reach the bottom edge, and then proceeded to break the rules of painting furthest to closest. Since I’m the boss of my painting, no one yelled at me. I hate being yelled at.

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This now required a bunch of different greens and two colors that I only use for redbud and lupine. It was really fun.

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It looks so much better in person that I considered not posting this last photo. When the paint is wet, the camera sees the reflective shine and it makes the color fade away on the camera.

Guess you’ll have to trust me.

Maybe in the next painting session the house areas will be dry enough so I can untangle it one little section at a time, the same way I handled the landscaping. If not, there’s plenty more landscaping to work on.

Rebuilding and Reshaping in Oil Paint

This is the view of the house that I am currently rebuilding and reshaping in oil paint.

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I thought it was looking good, but I was ignoring all the architectural details. You know, those little things like the size and shape of the windows, the placement of the chimney, the width of the porch. And there is that troubling section of roof that doesn’t show off to the far left; a small blur in a photo is one thing, but enlarging it in oil paint on canvas means I need to know.

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This was a day of measuring, scooting, erasing and reshaping.

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This path leading back behind the house is looking good. It was looking like water, and now I think it resembles gravel.

That’s something done right!

Anyone know a drawing teacher? I’ve heard one should learn to draw before attempting to paint.

Looking at these photos here on the screen shows me there is more scooting, rebuilding and reshaping ahead.