After my visit to Dubai in May of this year, I brought back some reference photos. One of those was the source for this next painting, 'The Boatride'.
Here is a my journey through 'The Boatride', as a step by step illustration.
1. Sketching the basic shapes & lines & blocking in sky - here my aim was to establish an outline of the subject bearing in mind space & the horizon line. I established a divide for the sky and the water. I also plan and establish the cool and warm regions as well as the dark and light areas, determining the mood and feeling for the painting. In this case, as it is a nightscape the mood is dark yet a night light up with lights. This is the mood I will keep in mind throughout the next steps.
2. Filling detail of subject, starting from background to foreground & blending -I begin establishing the detail of the lights in the distance & body of the boat ( main subject/focal point). Here I also establish the range of tones for the reflections.
3. Continue filling detail (colour and tone) in reflections, buildings & highlights - without losing focus on the focal point. Space around the focal point becomes crucial here as does the colour, contrast and impression of distance buildings. Depending on the type of impression and perspective aimed for, the buildings in the far distance should be varied in tone and texture. In this case, the aim was for the distant lights to seem further from the foreground yet stand out therefore the lights were made smaller but brighter.
The Boatride 80 cm x 51 cm oil on panel
© 2013
Since in this painting I was experimenting with creating reflections in colour, the colour and tone was as important that the subject and therefore I did not rely solely on the reference photo . Throughout the painting process, I would bear in mind positive & negative space'(space of subjects & around the subjects).
Here is a my journey through 'The Boatride', as a step by step illustration.
1. Sketching the basic shapes & lines & blocking in sky - here my aim was to establish an outline of the subject bearing in mind space & the horizon line. I established a divide for the sky and the water. I also plan and establish the cool and warm regions as well as the dark and light areas, determining the mood and feeling for the painting. In this case, as it is a nightscape the mood is dark yet a night light up with lights. This is the mood I will keep in mind throughout the next steps.
2. Filling detail of subject, starting from background to foreground & blending -I begin establishing the detail of the lights in the distance & body of the boat ( main subject/focal point). Here I also establish the range of tones for the reflections.
3. Continue filling detail (colour and tone) in reflections, buildings & highlights - without losing focus on the focal point. Space around the focal point becomes crucial here as does the colour, contrast and impression of distance buildings. Depending on the type of impression and perspective aimed for, the buildings in the far distance should be varied in tone and texture. In this case, the aim was for the distant lights to seem further from the foreground yet stand out therefore the lights were made smaller but brighter.
© 2013
Since in this painting I was experimenting with creating reflections in colour, the colour and tone was as important that the subject and therefore I did not rely solely on the reference photo . Throughout the painting process, I would bear in mind positive & negative space'(space of subjects & around the subjects).
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