Lake Reflections: Light and Colour

Lake Reflections: Light and Colour 

30" x 30" - acrylic on canvas 

I started this painting over a year ago, liking stages 1 and 2 but stopped at stage 3, because I was not sure exactly how I wanted to finish it. I liked parts but knew that other parts needed work.  In the last couple of weeks I have been trying to complete a few paintings that have been lingering, and once again turned my attention to this one. Stage 4 shows what I did with the trees and their colouring.

I finally concluded that I needed to balance the drama of the coloured reflections with a similar dark value in the rest of the water, which I did. It made pictorial sense, and I am very happy with the result. Cheers!

stage 4

stage 3

stage 2

stage 1

The Wild West

The Wild West
24" x 30" - acrylic on canvas  SOLD

I decided to work again with the west coast landscape photo I posted the other day - and after two days of painting, this is the result. If you compare them you will see that the photo provided the structure and the tree-reflection shapes, but the colour was my own exuberant invention. It was fun to paint and gave me the boost I needed as I prepare for my upcoming painting trip at the end of the month. 

I actually worked on a second painting while busy with this one. Going back and forth between two (or more) helps to stop me from getting too obsessive, and tight. Will show you that one tomorrow.