STUDY FOR PRIVATE COMMISSION

I’ve been working on several large painting commissions recently, and don’t have a small daily painting for you today. However, so that those of you who subscribe to this site might know what’s going on in my studio, I decided to show you the process I use to develop a finished painting for a specific commission.

In this case, I was asked to create a painting from the grounds of a beautiful log home that the client has built high above Lake Granite Shoals. The home, which is an absolutely stunning, three-level lodge with porches and gardens surrounding it, is perched on precipice with a breathtaking view of the lake, and eagles actually nest up here, high in the canyon walls.

Rather than requiring a documentary portrait of their gorgeous vacation home, they allowed me to gather reference and propose a more poetic idea for the painting, with no other guidelines than it should in some way depict the beauty of the location, include some aspect of the log home, …and have bluebonnets. I walked all over the grounds, and shot dozens of reference photos, but knew before leaving what I wanted to do. For me the vista from the grounds of Eagle’s Nest and it’s beautiful setting was the most compelling impression, and these lovely oaks offered the perfect tie-in for building the composition.

I prepared the above sketch in Photoshop, by altering the view from this reference photo, and several others. Rather than describe the adaptions, I’ll just let you find them if you’re interested. I was a bit worried that the owner may actually want more of their impressive and dramatic home included, but to my delight their response to the sketch was, “I absolutely LOVE IT!!!” I’ll show you the finished painting, soon.

I leave today for another trip to gather more painting reference from a friend’s cattle ranch. They’ll be branding and doing the spring work, so I’m really looking forward to this experience. I should be back in the studio with another painting for you on Thursday.

SOLD

SOLD

SOLD

SOLD     14×11 oil on canvas panel 

Sorry, couldn’t resist the title. The trick for me in this one was to simplify things enough to get it down to interlocking pattern shapes. It’s amazing what goes on in a mud puddle (he-hee).  I like this painting very much, even though it has its faults.  (They all do.)  But, this was worth the study.  I learned some things, and made a painting out of what I was seeing.  That doesn’t always happen.

not available

30×24 oil on canvas I’m having daily painting withdrawal! I haven’t been able to paint and post recently because I’ve been working to get my paintings ready for a show opening at one of my galleries (Fredericksburg Art Gallery). Paintings must be delivered Monday, and I’m just finishing framing this evening. I thought you may want to see what I’m doing, even though this isn’t a daily painting. This one is without a doubt my favorite.

 

$89 8×6 oil on canvas

If you care to, you can read, below, what I posted about this little painting yesterday. It was late and I was tired from the battle. Admittedly, I felt I that I fell short of my expectations for the painting. I often feel that way after a plein air session. But as I wrote yesterday, I decided to wait until today to make a final determination as to its fate. I’ve learned to wait a day before condemning a painting. I’ve yet to do a perfect painting, and they often turn out to have some redeeming qualities after I see them with fresh eyes.

Anyway, today it turned out to be one of the most viewed paintings on the Daily Painters Gallery site! That was a nice encouragement to learn that some people must have enjoyed it, and so, I’ve decided to put it up for auction, after all. I hope it finds a loving home.

Yesterday, I wrote: A quick sketch of the evening view out my studio window. Maybe too quick. I’m not going to put this one up on eBay. In fact I’m going to think about what to do on this tomorrow. Maybe things will look different to me in the morning.