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Night Light

HLarson3 10 Jan 2022

I’ve looked at this one longingly for quite some time and decided to finally take it on!

I spent a lot of time on composition here, trying to make sure all the underpaint colors were in their proper place and in the right amount. I still just missed with the crimson on the right (as many others have noted trouble with).

Happy with: Clouds! Finally! Practice paying dividends here. Waves! I like these. It had been a while.

Challenges: All palette knife work (and there’s a lot here!). Did a ton of scraping off and re-trying on the rocks and lighthouse and buildings. I chose to make a nice big fat lighthouse which I like, but it might have created less depth in my painting. These tiny buildings were difficult and I didn’t get quite enough contrast/brightness in them. Grassy areas never quite looked right to me so I went with a big “Maine pink granite” in the foreground versus more grass. Truthfully I think Bob was pressed for time and finished off with that grass for speed sake. Foamy areas between the waves were also challenging. I would also like to see a larger “glow” and less black space.

Taking the day to paint this was a birthday gift to me from my wife, and what a gift it was! Took me five hours once I got the underpaint layers on, I’m still pretty slow, but I wanted to give it my best effort. My workspace was a MESS after I finished!!!

Oils

Comments

Voy Kay Conqueror of Challenges

An adorable description AND painting you posted here!

This is on my shortlist as well so will keep those wonderful comments and hazard warnings in mind, no worries!
Bob loves the use of his paint knife and I can imagine not everybody is comfy with that. Myself, when the knife handling gives me difficulty (specially on smaller objects), I switch to a small brush.
I do like trees and bushes more then grass but guess Bob's reason for this was that you spot more grassy areas near the coast then near a forest. He was certainly not pressed for time since he took some time for a small afterchat AND for his signature.

Anyway, you can be very proud for the hard work you presented here. Your clouds and waves are absolute divine, that crusher included!

Till next one!

Thank you so much Voy, I appreciate your thoughtful feedback and kind words! I agree. If he signed, he must not have been too pressed. Hmm

Given my love of the Down East Maine coast, I would love to throw an lovely droopy fir tree or three down on my next encounter with this one. And I’m still debating whether I should put up a couple tiny, stark lighthouse windows!

Mgiese84 Cleanest Technique In The Game

You did a nice job here!

Thank you Matt, I so appreciate it! It will never be “perfect” and it’s honestly not my favorite so far, but I’m still quite proud of this one, it’s just such an interesting composition and a challenge. These “bravery test” paintings make me more willing to take on the world! Except for a “knife only” painting…not yet!

Mgiese84 Cleanest Technique In The Game

Yea those knife only are a real pain lol

Hehe. Still loved yours. Keep on swinging!

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