House Portrait Completed – Landscaping

More Detailing…

I used to think after I removed the masking there wasn’t much else left to do. Wrong. Tiny brush strokes symbolize shadow shapes that define architectural details. I’m not trying to produce realism here. Just a suggestion. The viewer does the rest. To me, a more interesting interpretation.

Next, a little more landscaping.

But may I please use some artistic license…

…when it comes to the majestic trees surrounding the house?

 I don’t want the trees to obscure and overpower. Just a suggestion serves to nestle the house more into the painting.

Add a few branches, sign my name and the house portrait is finished and ready to be delivered in time for Christmas.

Thank you, Becky & George.

House Portrait Continued – Shutters & Windows

Create Harmonious Neutrals

 

On Palette & Paper

 

Blending color opposites creates lovely neutrals. Here I am blending red and green to create a range of choices for the shutter colors. Shutters in sunlight will appear differently than shutters in shadow underneath porch roof.

Applying first wash.

I like the windows to appear lit from within. To achieve this I apply saturated hues. Again color opposites, this time purple and yellow.

I drop in more water allowing the colors to blend and neutralize on the paper.

When completely dry, I remove the masking.

Masking is removed. Time  to step back, analyze and evaluate before moving on to detailing trim work.

House Portrait Continued – Trim Detail & Roof

Subtle Definition Makes Big Impact

Probably one of my most often used techniques…lost and found edges. I love the illusion this creates. I feel like I’m sculpting in watercolor.

Feeling the need to add some dark values to give me a better reference for judging mid to light values. Time to put on that roof.

I try to use the largest brush possible for the area I’m working in. But every now and then, a tiny round comes to my rescue

There, that’s better. How about those shutters next…

House Portrait Progress Continued – Shadows

 Shadows Shapes

Here I am mindful of value and temperature to symbolize depth and light. The cool washes are cast shadows and warm washes under eaves and base of porch wall are reflected  light.

Adding a darker value second wash under front porch. This will really bring the porch roof forward and accentuate the distinctive trim work.

Blending and losing edge with a warmer wash.

At this stage all I want to do is put everything on hold

and paint, paint, paint…

Keeping my fingers crossed, that is what I am doing the next two days. Maybe, tomorrow, we will put on a roof

Hope you are enjoying seeing this lovely home come into being.

House Portrait Progress Continued…Sky & Trees

Hold on…Here We Go…

This is quite exciting. Especially when working on a tilt. A tad different from tiny detail. I’ve put away my magnifying glass and put on my parachute.

Adding background shrubs and trees…

…and a few clouds.

Feeling good about today’s progress

More to follow…

Saving Whites Today…

Hoping To Add Color Tomorrow.

You’ll Be The First To Know.

Above is a commissioned house portrait in process. For the last few days, I’ve hovered over it with a magnifying glass, finding and fine-tuning little details. A dot symbolizing a front door key lock and a dash for a mail slot. I know these tiny symbols will hold so much meaning for the home owner and I carefully seek them out.

It takes a different state of mind to ease into the details. I pass through a resistance of what my left-brain thinks is minutiae. But as I work, my right brain imagines what it would be like living there and something shifts. I’m learning if I can slow down, there can be flow in detailing too.

Hoping for blue skies tomorrow, but for now, I need to tidy up the front porch

Freedom VS Structure

My freedom-loving inner artist that lives to splash color

is needing to wait her turn today :/

Structure, her counter-intuitive partner, is hard at work, laying a firm foundation.

 This stage is not my favorite.

 Funny, this morning’s reading from Christine Valters Paintner’s, the Artist’s Rule,  Abbey of the Arts, was:

Creativity arises out of the tension between spontaneity and limitations, the latter – like the riverbanks - forcing the spontaneity into various forms which are essential to the work of art or poem.

- Rollo May