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For me, a big painting is anything over 12x16. This week, I'm starting one that is 36x36. Just getting the canvas toned and up on the easel is a project! I had to use the largest brush I have to tone it. Then, because I needed the workbench for another task, I had to move the canvas to the carport to get it out of the way. Finally, when I brought it back in, I had to raise the mast on my H-frame easel to hold it. I'm a tall painter, so the mast is just tickling the ceiling.
This painting will be created from plein air sketches, photo references and pencil sketches. Earlier in the year, I hiked out to a waterfall location on Oak Creek that has always fascinated me and took a series of photos and made some pencil sketches. Here are the sketches:
I had meant to go back the next day and make some color sketches, too, but time got away. Then we had heavy rain and a significant flood that made the location inaccessible. Now that the water has receded, I decided yesterday to see if I could hike out there. The flood had pushed around and piled up a great deal of debris—the usual logs and branches, but also a good deal of charred wood. Much of the debris had come from up-canyon, north of Sedona, from areas that had been devasted by last summer's Slide Fire. Because I knew I'd be doing some scrambling, I decided to travel lightly.
I packed up my 6x8 Guerrilla Painter ThumBox with a prepped palette, one brush, two 6x8 panels and a little container of Gamsol. I also took a bottle of water and my portable stool. Normally, I don't like working in my lap, but I didn't want to drag a tripod through the debris. The stool was lighter and less bulky.
I was pleased to find that the hike wasn't as tough as I'd expected, and although the terrain had changed somewhat, my view of my waterfall was still there. In fact, I think my chosen perch was a little more open than before, and now there was a mound of sand to set up on.
I did two 6x8 studies in an hour:
In addition to these references, I have one more, created last year. It's a 9x12 painting of the water. In some ways, I prefer this water view to what I sketched yesterday—it's a little further downstream—and I may use it instead. Once I make some progress on this painting, I'll post more photos.
This painting will be created from plein air sketches, photo references and pencil sketches. Earlier in the year, I hiked out to a waterfall location on Oak Creek that has always fascinated me and took a series of photos and made some pencil sketches. Here are the sketches:
I had meant to go back the next day and make some color sketches, too, but time got away. Then we had heavy rain and a significant flood that made the location inaccessible. Now that the water has receded, I decided yesterday to see if I could hike out there. The flood had pushed around and piled up a great deal of debris—the usual logs and branches, but also a good deal of charred wood. Much of the debris had come from up-canyon, north of Sedona, from areas that had been devasted by last summer's Slide Fire. Because I knew I'd be doing some scrambling, I decided to travel lightly.
I packed up my 6x8 Guerrilla Painter ThumBox with a prepped palette, one brush, two 6x8 panels and a little container of Gamsol. I also took a bottle of water and my portable stool. Normally, I don't like working in my lap, but I didn't want to drag a tripod through the debris. The stool was lighter and less bulky.
I was pleased to find that the hike wasn't as tough as I'd expected, and although the terrain had changed somewhat, my view of my waterfall was still there. In fact, I think my chosen perch was a little more open than before, and now there was a mound of sand to set up on.
I did two 6x8 studies in an hour:
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| Top of the Falls, 6x8 oil (You'll note the waterfall has diminished since I made my pencil sketch) |
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| Below the Falls, 6x8 oil |
In addition to these references, I have one more, created last year. It's a 9x12 painting of the water. In some ways, I prefer this water view to what I sketched yesterday—it's a little further downstream—and I may use it instead. Once I make some progress on this painting, I'll post more photos.
 |
| Spring Shallows, 9x12 oil |