48 by 60 Sycamore: Completed

Completed commission piece

Here it is: 48 by 60 inch Sycamore is complete and I am scheduled to deliver it to it's new home this week.  I am celebrating by starting a new piece and will post what's on my easel before week's end.  Happy painting!

48 By 60 Sycamore Process: Layering Sky & Shadows

Layering the Sky with Ultramarine Blue, Ultramarine Violet and Titanium White

Process Detail 1

Process Detail 2

Process Detail 3

Layering the sky trying to capture a smooth value change of deep blue on top to pale blue below.  Also, I have started working in shadows among the branches using Cobalt Blue and Phthalo Green Blue, which I think is a nice push of color on top of the Van Dyke Brown wash.  My medium is not quite half & half linseed oil:stand oil as I have a little more linseed cut into the mix.  It's starting to come together and I am heading into my favorite part of the process; detailing.

Large Sycamore

Here it is, the final sycamore painting.  I have this posted on my website as well.
Painting onward...

Prepretory Sketch

In preparation for a new painting I snapped some images of sycamores around Asheville.  This is one of many, many, many. 

I did several sketches from photos like this one to work out the composition and tonal balances.  Then I placed a 2" grid over the sketch with blue pencil.

From there,  I placed an 8" grid on a 48x48" canvas and started with a sepia outline.  More to come as it progresses.