It's been a while since my last Inspiration Sunday, but Shirl was here for a 5-day visit, and, we painted! Yay! I've missed painting.
I've decided to put away the challenge book, and concentrate on painting from my photos, at least for a while.
my inspiration:
This photo was taken several years ago when we were on holiday. Staying at a resort near Huntsville, Ontario, we heard about a special place not too far away called Dyer's Memorial.
A beautiful garden was created, as well as a memorial, by Mr. Dyer in memory of his late wife.
This was the pathway through the forest and the stairs up to one of the open areas in the park. Ascending the wood-edged earth staircase took one from shaded woods to sunny grassed, flat areas of gardens.
My challenge then would be to create this look of 3 dimensions on watercolour paper. I hope to capture the light spilling through the trees, the depth in the staircase, and of a sunlit meadow beyond.
Whenever I look at this photo, I feel the silence of the forest here, marking the respect and gratitude of a man for his wife, and the sunlight reflecting the joy of their years together.
some links for more info:
http://www.ontarioabandonedplaces.com/upload/wiki.asp?entry=685
http://www.flickr.com/photos/williamsphoto/5099742593/
On to the painting
some light washes added wet into wet
suggesting trees, then penciling in a little detail for the stairs
adding some ground colour and a hint of leaves
beginning the stairs
defining the background trees and building more shrubbery
warming up the foreground
more stair detail
adding a few more trees to create depth and the illusion of distance
I didn't like the solid look of the tree on the right, so I softened the greens and will try to gently remove more of the colour, and then add a few smaller trees instead of the 1 large evergreen
more warm tones were added and intensified, and the lower step was made a little thicker
I've set this aside to look at it and contemplate the next step
Hope you're having a wonderful Wednesday.
Thanks for visiting.
Hugs from Suz
I've decided to put away the challenge book, and concentrate on painting from my photos, at least for a while.
my inspiration:
A beautiful garden was created, as well as a memorial, by Mr. Dyer in memory of his late wife.
This was the pathway through the forest and the stairs up to one of the open areas in the park. Ascending the wood-edged earth staircase took one from shaded woods to sunny grassed, flat areas of gardens.
My challenge then would be to create this look of 3 dimensions on watercolour paper. I hope to capture the light spilling through the trees, the depth in the staircase, and of a sunlit meadow beyond.
Whenever I look at this photo, I feel the silence of the forest here, marking the respect and gratitude of a man for his wife, and the sunlight reflecting the joy of their years together.
some links for more info:
http://www.ontarioabandonedplaces.com/upload/wiki.asp?entry=685
http://www.flickr.com/photos/williamsphoto/5099742593/
On to the painting
beginning the stairs
warming up the foreground
more stair detail
adding a few more trees to create depth and the illusion of distance
more warm tones were added and intensified, and the lower step was made a little thicker
I've set this aside to look at it and contemplate the next step
Hope you're having a wonderful Wednesday.
Thanks for visiting.
Hugs from Suz
You are a very talented lady Suz--this is beautiful.
ReplyDeleteSuztats,
ReplyDeleteYou are doing a wonderful job on your amazing picture! I'm thrilled to be able to see your breath taking work as it comes to life. Hugs!
Suz, dear, your painting is so beautiful, it looks so very lovely, and the photo also -what a special place, to visit... I can think!
ReplyDeleteHugs,Dorthe
I think your painting so far is even better than the inspiration photo! I love the warm tones. It almost looks etherial. I want to follow the path and see where it leads. (Maybe to a little cottage loaded with embellishments ;-P)
ReplyDeleteThis is going to be beautiful - and I wonder what will be your next step - after contemplation!
ReplyDeleteI missed your painting posts! This is going to be gorgeous, you're so talented. Thanks for sharing the steps.
ReplyDeleteYour painting is truly beautiful. I look forward to seeing it finished. You are a very talented lady. Hugs Judy
ReplyDeleteOh My, Suz, this is wonderful, I wish I could add painting to my list of abilities. My sister got the painting talent. When I first saw the photo of the walkway through the trees I didn't think it was real, the colours were magical, and now seeing you paint it, it's just wonderful.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing buddy.
Arlene
This is splendid. I like it as it is now before you add more.
ReplyDeleteFox : )
You are so kind, Doreen. I am happy with the progress so far. Fingers crossed, right?
ReplyDeleteHugs
Thanks BSOTF! I just hope I don't kill it. I have a tendency to rush my watercolours, so I'm trying to take it slowly.
ReplyDeleteHugs
It was a very special place, Dorthe, and we really enjoyed our visit. We took a picnic lunch to enjoy sitting by the gardens.
ReplyDeleteHope you're having a lovely week.
Hugs
Ah, Connie, if there had been a little cottage filled with embellishments, I think they'd have made their way to my stash!...lol! .......
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad you like the painting. Thanks so much for your lovely comments!
Hugs
I'm wondering that, too, Anneliese. I usually set the painting up so I can see it as I walk through the sunroom, waiting to see any errors or omissions. I think the first thing will be to add a few smaller trees or shrubs on the right.......we'll see.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for commenting.
Hugs
Thanks Annet! I'll try to keep up my painting and posting. Hugs
ReplyDeleteThank you, Arlene! It seemed to me to be a magical place, and I'm glad the photo caught that feeling. ( I must admit, I did lighten it a little in Picasa) I hope my painting will do it justice.
ReplyDeleteHave a great week!
Hugs
It does have a nice feel about it, I agree. I would like to add more forest or greenery to the foreground: I'm trying to capture the warm, sunny glade rising out of the cool, mysterious woods. We'll see if I get there.... ;-)
ReplyDeleteThanks Fox!
Hugs
You've painted again..YAY!! And it does look beautiful..How about a few more trees?..and it would be the "steps to paradise"
ReplyDeleteMore trees are in the plan, Deepa, and lots more greenery, too. I'm just taking a break while I finish up a couple things, and thinking about my next step.
ReplyDeleteHugs
such a lovely photograph and it seems to me you are more than doing it justice!
ReplyDeleteWOW, you can also paint. Beautiful.
ReplyDeleteIt seems like wisps of fog are floating between the trees. Amazing !!
It's a beautiful photo, and your interpretation in your painting is just superb! You are so clever!
ReplyDeleteAw, thanks Karen. Fingers crossed.
ReplyDeleteHugs
Hi Marjolein! I hadn't 'seen' the fog effect, so thanks so much for mentioning it. I find it fascinating how a group of people can look at the same thing, and each one 'sees' it differently. Hope you're having a wonderful week.
ReplyDeleteHugs
Thank you, Janet! Don't know about clever--it took me a long time to learn how to make the paint act the way I wanted it to, and still it misbehaves, a lot. lol.
ReplyDeleteI have another pic of this scene with DH half-way up the stairs--it's a favourite.
Hope you're knitting happy.
Hugs
You have captured the picture so well. Lovely so far
ReplyDeleteMargaret
Thank you, Margaret!
ReplyDeleteLovely painting! We're going to have to take a trip up and see if we can find this place. It looks like it would be something beautiful to see.
ReplyDeleteIt's a lovely spot, MA. Worth a drive, but take a picnic with you, and bug spray. And don't forget your camera. ;-)
ReplyDeleteHugs
What a cool post! I love the progression of the painting - it must have taken some discipline to stop and take pictures of your progress.
ReplyDeleteI am so enjoying seeing it all take shape and wondering what will come next; each thing you do seems so right.
Hope you'll keep on with showing us this as you go...
Actually, stopping to take pics at different stages forces me to look carefully at the painting, so it's a good tool for me. Otherwise I might rush along and end up making mud. It's been known to happen.
ReplyDeleteYes, I'll continue to show my progress. I know I am fascinated watching an artist bring strokes on a canvas or paper together to arrive at a finished work, so I thought I would do the same sort of thing, and show how it happens, bumps, warts and all.
I'm glad you're enjoying watching the process. Thanks, Jillayne.
Hugs
Beautiful painting Suz! I love the warm tones.Your idea to add smaller trees on the right sounds good.
ReplyDeleteSuz this painting is lovely. How interesting to see the stages you do in creating your art. I do not paint and therefore have no idea how it is done so thank you for sharing your techniques. Happy Mother's Day...
ReplyDeleteThank you Anita. I'm having fun with it.
ReplyDeleteI just finished my Chikan Embroidery, and I'm so pleased with the result!
You can see it here:
http://tast2012.blogspot.ca/2012/05/suz-chikan-completed-and-wip.html
I want to thank you, Anita, for sharing your skills and knowledge with everyone. Your lessons are very well written, clear and concise, and I'm looking forward to using these stitch variations in future. I bought a book of Chikankari patterns, so now I can play and practice!
Thank you, again!
Hugs
Thanks so much, Createology! I'm so glad you enjoy seeing the different stages of the journey. Wishing you a wonderful weekend!
ReplyDeleteHugs
I didn't realize what an artist you are! That is so beautiful, and definitely getting the feeling of the photograph. I'm impressed. =)
ReplyDeleteThank you so much, CQ4fun! I've been playing with paint for a number of years now, and I feel I'm just getting to the point where I just might know a little what I'm doing. lol. I'm having fun trying, anyway.
ReplyDeletejust catching up on blogs, love the painting you have done and thanks for sharing it in stages with us
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing the process. It is a really lovely picture and I am sure your painting will do it justice.
ReplyDeleteThank you Margaret: I'm so glad you enjoy seeing the process. I hope to have more to show later this week.
ReplyDeleteHugs
Thank you Dian. I sure hope you're right!
ReplyDeleteYour painting looks wonderful!! You certainly are multi-talented!
ReplyDeleteThanks JennyPenny Poppy. I hope to do a little more painting on it in the next few days. What will you be creating?
ReplyDeleteHugs