About a month ago I set a day aside to paint a new work SEA AND CLOUDS. I had completed the underpainting already and it was simply sitting there in its 36 X 36 inch glory tempting me to pick up the brushes.
It was a big canvas and the day was pleasant so I decided to work on the side deck. I have a rather odd approach I guess to setting up my palette. I start fresh each time and choose all the colours I am going to use before I start painting. In this case I used one of my photographs as a reference point. From there it is a matter of mixing which I often do on the canvas as much as I do on my palette. So here is what the paints look like as I start painting.
Next it is a matter of getting some paint on the canvas.
And a bit more I think…
and some more paint!
Three hours later I start to build up the image.
I work without thinking – breath after breath I move the paint with brush and palette knife over the canvas. I move the canvas to avoid shadows. But at last I must stop. I am out of light.
I move the wet canvas to another deck and capture a late-in-the-day image of the painting in progress.
For the past month I have mused and walked by this painting almost everyday. What is it that I need to do? What will pull these pieces together into a completed work? Oh I grumbled and I worked on photographs. I thought and then one day it came to me. I knew exactly what had to happen. I set aside the morning and finished the painting.
SEA AND CLOUDS 36 X 36 inch oil on canvas by Terrill Welch
Update October 6, 2012 : This painting is now SOLD. Other paintings currently available can be viewed in the Artwork Archives online Gallery HERE.
Sprout Question: How long have you waited for the right combination of information to finish a creative work?
© 2011 Terrill Welch, All rights reserved.
Liberal usage granted with written permission. See “About” for details.
Purchase photography at http://www.redbubble.com/people/terrillwelch
Creative Potager – where imagination rules. Be inspired.
From Mayne Island, British Columbia, Canada
Terrill Welch online Gallery at http://terrillwelchartist.com
Related articles
- Five new plein air oil paintings by Terrill Welch (creativepotager.wordpress.com)