Slowly, but Surely ...

I left off here ...

I've done a bit more thin glazing on the abutment and the base of the abutment.

Some more thin glazes have been done, and I have put in the reflections.  I thought it best to put them in lighter than they actually are, then play with them a bit when I paint the water. I have also done a first glaze on the girders.

Same lighting, but you'd never know it. This one shows the reflections better. The above photo better shows the bridge itself.


As ever, your comments are most welcome.

It's Getting the Old Building Look

I did this several years ago, in my first serious painting class. It's of my sister in Venice. We both love the painting, but I have it hanging at my place as she is in a state of perpetual fixing and re-decorating. I don't mind - I love looking at it. :) It was SO much fun painting those old buildings.

This brings me to the dreaded bridge.  I find I like painting it the same way I did those buildings in Venice, taking my time, wet-in-wet, leaving some edges here and there ...  It may not be how the bridge really looks, but I think it gives it much more character.

I'm playing warm and cool against each other, creating more depth.

As always, your comments are most welcome.

No ... I Was Not Abducted by Aliens ...

I couldn't wait to finish this - I was so keen to get onto another painting. The colors are frustratingly off; I think I'll have to break down and buy Photoshop Elements to get the colors right. 

This version was getting too dark in the sky, and the shadow on the abutment  on its left side would not be there under a cloudy sky, so ...

I started again this morning, using cobalt blue, instead of indanthrone for the sky colors. I think, I HOPE, it will turn out better.

No aliens - just a few days of work at the office, catching up with Bruno time, and getting used to the big change in the weather. Summer has finally arrived! :)

YAY ... It's Sunny ... so this may be it for painting today

I've oranged the boulders, to give the painting more color cohesion.

I have done a w/w drop wash, with a green mixture, again to bring it a bit more together.

There is a bit of a shadow [from the way I photographed it] on the sky area, which gives it a darker, broodier look that I like. So I think I will darken the sky in the painting, emphasizing the focal area.

With the bridge, I am glazing here and there to get more depth in the shadows.


This is the morning's work. It is beautifully sunny, and drying out somewhat, so time to get the riding gear on, and play with the lad. :)

As always, your comments are most welcome.

A Morning's Work ...

I'm continuing to add shadows ... almost there. I think I may have to darken the sky again in certain areas to highlight the focal spots, and put in the girders and understructures, to see exactly what I have here.

And I'm still playing with these much smaller ones, while the paint dries on the bridge.

Studio light

Day light.


Well, it's finally stopped bucketing rain outside. Mind you, I'd rather have this than the extreme heat and fires some areas are experiencing. I think it's time for a break outside.

As always, your comments are most welcome. 

Playing Around ...

Just wanted to let some staining colors run amok, to see what would happen. Usually I don't like when they separate out, but here it adds interest. I don't know where I'll go with this yet.  

A friend of mine worked with Tauk tours for a number of years. He took this when in India, and downloaded it for me. It really is a stunning photo, and one I've been thinking of painting for a while.

I've got a decent start on the sky ...

And yes, I did work a bit on the bridge - more shadowing on the right, and in the underpass.

As always, your comments are very welcome. 

The Battle Is Engaged ... or ... I've Started the Bridge

This is the monster, with first washes, showing its size  13 x 30 inches.

I decided to go moody and broody  with the background. It might be a bit of a reflection of my mood, or that I just don't see and feel about Vancouver the way I did when I was living there. It just seemed trite to paint the bridge with a glowing sunset. Maybe next time ... 

I've started blocking in the shadows, using quin. pink, quin. burnt orange and indanthrone.

And I couldn't resist trying another sketch of "The Prince" aka Julian.

And a small narcissus, to play with later.

I was thrilled to get an email from Pat Elliot. She and her husband love Missy's portrait so much, Missy will be flying over the ocean to stay with them :) I just have to touch up the ear color, as the photo didn't show the color well.

As always, your comments are most welcome.