WIP for "I'll Bring the Flowers, Iroquois Day"

When I started this blog, one of my intentions was to post some WIP or "works in progress" shots that I snap from my easel through the process of a painting.
This is the first one that I have actually posted. I start out with good intentions of making a chronicle of the progress of more of my paintings. I'll get the first few shots and then get so into the painting that I forget all about shooting more and then... oops...it's done. I'll have to work on my system for remembering to snap pictures more often!

Here is a short progression of an 8 x 10 painting entitled "I'll Bring the Flowers". It was inspired by one of the stylish attendees of the races on Iroquois day at Percy Warner Park in Nashville. I loved the pink of her dress against the green of the grass. (This painting will be included in my solo show at Belle Meade Plantation's Art Gallery this May.) Most of the work at the show this year was inspired by the sights of the Steeplchase Races on Iroquois day in 2010.

I did this sketch with a mixture of burnt umber and ultramarine with a medium/small sized brush. No pencil drawing..dove right in with the paint, tried to keep it sketchy but proportional. When the canvas is small I will usually start right in with paint and "draw" with the brush... actually, I have been starting out that way more and more lately even with my larger canvases. It helps me think in terms of blocking in masses more than getting too bogged down with a linear approach.

The next shot shows a general blocking in of the value of the green trees/grass of the background. I usually start with a toned canvas, however I did not tone my canvas on this one because I wanted the white of the canvas to help the brightness of the pinks and pastels of the dress.

Blocking in the local colors gets paint all over the canvas and starts to generally show my values. I'm not worried about the details at this point...mostly working on values.


The final painting shows the result of refining the drawing. The temperatures and values of the colors have all been pushed and pulled to this point. I will set this painting aside in a place where I'll see it everyday and with a fresh eye....then I'll know if it's truly finished.