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Charlie & Corrie cutting the turf
Final Stages
This stage in the execution of a painting, for me is the most
satisfying.
A good deal of time is spent roaming back and forward over the scene,
looking for areas that need more or less definition,or passages which will take
the viewer's eye away from the main subject. It's benefical at this point to
stand well back and view the painting from every angle, look at it in a mirror
or turn it to the wall and leave it for a day or two. Anything that will let me
see it with a fresh eye. This will often show up something that requires
attention. Best of all, is when Irene my wife walks in, glances at the painting
on the way past and tosses out an innocent criticism which I have to admit is
right. But I usually wait untill she goes out again before I correct it. There
comes a point when I have to decide that the painting is finished. All that
remains now is to sign it and give the painting my personal reference number.
~Here is the finished framed painting.
Time to Commit
In my last Blog ,I talked about the men cutting the turf and the initial
layout of the painting. In the next 3 sessions seen below I hope to show the
progression of each stage. At this point a nervous exhilaration suddenly
arrives. This I try not to lose, which can sometimes happen if I get
bogged-down in a particular area of the painting.
Firstly I painted the sky and the background mountain, followed by the
middle distance hill on the left, using a combination of cobalt blue, light
red, yellow ochre and Titanium white. Next I strengthened the tree line and
brought up the temperature of the foreground area - which has the effect of
pushing the mountains back in the painting.
In the second session, my focus switches to the two figures. I work on both
figures at the same time until they are completed to my satisfaction before
moving on.
In the third session, you will see that I have started to bring up the
foreground and to add some detail such as the clumps of heather, slabs of turf,
shadow areas and highlights in the grass.
The Buzz
I find it wonderful when I come across or find a subject, a view, or a pose
that just seems to ring a bell and I think 'YES' ! I spent all afternoon with
these two guys, who seemed as bemused by me as I was fascinated by them. It
wasn't long before they forgot I was there and settled back into the steady
rhythm of slice - slice- lift and throw. They could keep this up for about 20
or 30 minutes without stopping, then they would swop places. I'm glad they
didn't ask me if I would like to try !
Back to the painting - having placed the basic shapes where I want them, I
begin scrubbing in some turpsy washes of colour , to give more volume to the
figures, establish where the light is coming from and to get the white of the
canvas covered.
Making a Start
I have chosen a 24"x 20" medium grain canvas for this painting.I have also
selected
four photographs, each of which contain an element that I wish to use. So
from a
combination of these, I can construct a painting to match the image I have
in my mind.
The first step is to block in the main event, which is the two figures and
the position of
Mt. Errigal - this is done using charcoal.
There was very little sun that day,but what sunlight there was came from
the left.
A Timely Reminder !
I said that I intended to get back to my painting,but during
the course of siftingthrough my heaps of photographs and material relating to
subject matter, it came to my notice that I haven't painted any turfcutters for
quite a while. So that's where I think I'll start. I will also show some stages
of the work as the painting progresses.
Tag knows the treats are kept on the third shelf, I think I'm supposed to
get the message.
Ha Lo and Tag pretending to be good
I have just spent the past few weeks working on this Blog.
It has been a very interesting experience looking through the old
photographs, remembering some of the times past, and being quite amused by the
changes to myself - ageing certainly alters the appearance somewhat!
I now intend to return to my painting, and I hope to up-date the Blog
regularily.
Meanwhile - here is a photograph of my constant companions in the
studio.
Ha Lo and Tag pretending to be good.
