|
 In the painting
featured below, I've decided to paint the background in shades of gray,
reminiscent of the era of the original photograph. I chose to paint
Walter, his horse and wagon in colour ... which is my present-day tribute to
his memory. What was my inspiration to start this painting?
Click on the milk-picture to find out -
Walter the
Dairyman
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Photograph provided by
Lynn Weller,
Granddaughter of Walter Marshall - early 1900's |
Step One
Composition "scrawl" on canvas |
Step Two
I blocked in shapes and colour. This step's very
encouraging - it makes me realize that the painting's really going
to happen! |
Step Three
A little more background definition always helps. Here I'm
trying to get the darks a bit darker and the lights a bit lighter.
I'm experimenting to get the right shade of yellow. (I was given
colour advice from
Paul Huntley, a Toronto City Dairy
connoisseur, collector and author.) |
Step Four
I'm trying to give the background more depth, definition and
details. The bricks were the most fun! Branches ... twigs ...
everything helps. I'm happier with the wagon colour. Now
I just have to figure out how the wagon attaches to the wheels,
because right now it looks as if it's floating in air! |
Step Five
Lots of work today ... more darks and lights in the background ...
border design on the wagon ... and horse-work!!! Lots more
needs to be done, but I'm happier by the minute. |
Step Six
Much concentration was spent on the watchamacallits of which I
know absolutely nothing! All the leather hoop-de-doodle on the
horse took hours! I also applied lighter lights and darker
darks to liven up the horse - and I'm happy with the outcome - so
far. What next? Probably the wheels. I'm not looking forward
to doing the lettering! |
Step Seven
Today I worked on the
lettering on the wagon - almost as much fun as root canal! To date -
the slush in the foreground was just a grey smudge. While
giving the slush more definition, I had to obliterate some of the
wheel-spokes. Don't worry, I'll put them back! |
Step Eight
More tweaking of the
foreground slush - it seems like a never-ending task. Have you noticed that the spokes are
back? But what about Walter? Like they say ... "Hold your
horses!" Painting Walter will be my reward for perseverance. |
Step Nine
... and now the end is near
... I worked on Walter - over and over and over ... 'cause I'm never
satisfied the first time. I know I'll be tweaking his facial
features again before I'm ready to "call it a day". For that I
need a paintbrush the size of an eyelash! I know, too, that
I'll be sharpening up a few edges here and there before I put my
signature this masterpiece! |
Step Ten
Done! I darkened, I
lightened, I fiddled and tweaked - a bit on the horse ... a bit on
the wagon ... a bit on Walter himself ... until the only thing left
to do was SIGN IT!
Professional reproductions (9" x 12" giclee prints on watercolour
paper) are now available - suitable for framing. The cost is
$36.00 Canadian for each print, plus a pack-and-post fee of $4.00.
Please don't hesitate to contact me if you wish to order one or more
of these prints.
snowbell@rogers.com
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