Progress on "River Sunset"

 I started the initial work on this in September, then worked on other paintings. I went back to it on Dec. 8 to do the initial under painting, then didn't touch it again until Jan. 12 when I added more values.

This is with the under painting and more values added. Every time I look at a progress photo, I make notes on what to do when I next get in the studio.

January 26: I added shades of yellow, orange, peach, and beige to the sky, going back and forth a couple of times. The hardest part sometimes is allowing the painting to be its own piece and not a replica of either the original or the printed version of the photo. The pastels don’t necessarily allow me to create the exact colors. 

I think this is because of working between original on the computer and the printed version on regular copy paper.

I began adding a little texture to the trees along the horizon and lightly brought some peach color down into the trees. I put some detail into the first of the bigger trees coming forward. I went back and forth with the sun colors. 

 

January 28: It’s funny how it’s like I see it one way while standing at the easel, then when I’m sitting at the computer reviewing progress photos and, maybe comparing to the original photo, I notice other aspects. 

I added saturation to Megan’s original photo to see if it would print closer to hers. No. But it did add some light on the pine needles which I like and made a note to add when I get to that point in the painting. However, I realized the lighting out here is not the same as in the studio. Another thing to consider, which makes me go back to, instead of going through all this hemming and hawing, let the painting be what it turns out to be!

So, I went in the studio and worked almost an hour. I added the tree along the left edge and along the top (good thing to do it early as dark pastel dust fell onto the sky and I was able to get it off.) I added more color to the sky, better defined other trees with a black CarboOthello pencil and Sennelier dark green.  

I moved farther down better defining the lower edge of the left side trees and the rocky shoreline. I put in greed grasses and topped some areas with more peach.The question right now… Do I go for the intense orange or keep to the more yellow side? When I step back from the painting, it looks good. 

The picture on the right is the printed version of Megan's original photo and the right is my painting so far.

I’m pleased with how this is going.