Composition
Canvas Types
Canvas Prep
Canvas Stretching
Under-Painting
Fat/Lean
Sinking In
Oiling Out
Oiling In
Retouch Varnish
Final Varnish
Photographing
Print Making
Print Framing
Step-By-Step
Step by Step - Oil Painting Tutorials
Referance Material - Old Victorian Engraving
Referance Material - Painting by David Johnson
Support:
Medium Texture Cotton Canvas - Pre-Stretched & Mounted - Acrylic Primer
Size:
16x20 inch
Medium:
Winsor & Newton 'Artist Oils'
Ivory Black
Titanium White
Ultramarine Blue
Sap Green
Naples Yellow
Raw Sienna
Burnt Sienna
Finish:
None
DAY 1
DAY 2
DAY 3
DAY 4a
DAY 4
WORK IN PROGRESS (WIP)
CRITIQUES FROM ARTIST FORUMS!
(All quotes from www.wetcanvas.com artist forums)
"liking this idea very much, nice composition..." - La
"I really like how this is coming. I have no suggestions, but I can't wait to see this progress further." - tony1
"That Hudson view is reminiscent of one I got while playing the Sleepy Hollow Golf Club in Tarrytown many years ago. They might like to hang it in their dining room." - billmahler
"John! Gorgeous work you are doing! ...Lovely painting" - C.L.Magnuson
"The panoramic "background" of this piece is so elegantly beautiful..." - TScottDove
DAY 4b
DAYS 5 & 6
DAY 7
DAY 8
DAY 9
DAY 9
WORK IN PROGRESS (WIP)
CRITIQUES FROM ARTIST FORUMS!
(All quotes from www.wetcanvas.com artist forums)
"You got the greens just right. Are you finished with it? Or is there more to this painting. It's very good. the depth is convincing and the winding river gives direction to the composition." - RetrospectiveGlance
DAY 10
DAY 10
WORK IN PROGRESS (WIP)
CRITIQUES FROM ARTIST FORUMS!
(All quotes from www.wetcanvas.com artist forums)
"Hi John...........Been watching this all along your progress. ....this latest post is my favorite. Seems like the highlights on the trees and ground is perfect." - MRSBB
DAY 11
DAY 12
SLIDE SHOW
Oil #14
"River Through the Adirondacks"
16 x 20 inch (40.6 x 50.8 cm)
Oil on Canvas
John O'Keefe
Winter 2007/2008
Oil 20 |
Oil 21 |
Oil 22 |
Oil 23 |
Oil 24 |
Oil 25 |
Oil 26 |
Oil 27 |
Oil 28 |
Oil 29 |
John O'Keefe
"River Through the Adirondacks"
(Oil Painting #14)
"River Through the Adirondacks"
(Oil Painting #14)
I was aiming for a Hudson River School feel with this painting. I found an old black and white Victorian engraving
online that I liked and decided to base my painting on its features. I do not know the location of the
scene in this engraving but I assume it is a real place. I named my painting "River Through the Adirondack's".
My final painting differs from this reference material in the details, but the larger aspects of the composition
can clearly be seen in my finished work. I also cropped the far-right portion of the engraving out of my painting.
Referance Material - Old Victorian Engraving
The cloud patterns and colors used in my painting are referanced from the 1860 painting "Natural Bridge" by
Hudson River School artist David Johnson.
Referance Material - Painting by David Johnson
Support:
Medium Texture Cotton Canvas - Pre-Stretched & Mounted - Acrylic Primer
Size:
16x20 inch
Medium:
Winsor & Newton 'Artist Oils'
Ivory Black
Titanium White
Ultramarine Blue
Sap Green
Naples Yellow
Raw Sienna
Burnt Sienna
Finish:
None
DAY 1
Day 1 notes...
Painting begins by completing the sky and major land and water areas are blocked in. In the foreground (unpainted white areas) will be the closeup details of the trees, foliage and rocks. Before I begin painting those details I must finish the distant scenery and waterways.
Painting begins by completing the sky and major land and water areas are blocked in. In the foreground (unpainted white areas) will be the closeup details of the trees, foliage and rocks. Before I begin painting those details I must finish the distant scenery and waterways.
DAY 2
Day 2 notes...
I have added more definition to the low-land areas. The fields are more defined now.
I have added more definition to the low-land areas. The fields are more defined now.
DAY 3
Day 3 notes...
Here is an update on the distant land features... You can see I tightened things up a bit and added increased detail and contrast to the forests and distant hills of the low-land areas.
Here is an update on the distant land features... You can see I tightened things up a bit and added increased detail and contrast to the forests and distant hills of the low-land areas.
DAY 4a
Day 4 notes...
I thought the painting from DAY 3 had to much of an agricultural feel and I wanted something more natural and park-like. Compare middle-left areas between DAY 3 and DAY 4 images to see the new direction in which I took the painting. I also began to add shoreline shadows and reflections. (One nice feature about working with oils is the slow dry time - you can literally scrape off entire areas and redo them without anyone ever knowing ...unless you tell them!)
I thought the painting from DAY 3 had to much of an agricultural feel and I wanted something more natural and park-like. Compare middle-left areas between DAY 3 and DAY 4 images to see the new direction in which I took the painting. I also began to add shoreline shadows and reflections. (One nice feature about working with oils is the slow dry time - you can literally scrape off entire areas and redo them without anyone ever knowing ...unless you tell them!)
WORK IN PROGRESS (WIP)
CRITIQUES FROM ARTIST FORUMS!
(All quotes from www.wetcanvas.com artist forums)
"liking this idea very much, nice composition..." - La
"I really like how this is coming. I have no suggestions, but I can't wait to see this progress further." - tony1
"That Hudson view is reminiscent of one I got while playing the Sleepy Hollow Golf Club in Tarrytown many years ago. They might like to hang it in their dining room." - billmahler
"John! Gorgeous work you are doing! ...Lovely painting" - C.L.Magnuson
"The panoramic "background" of this piece is so elegantly beautiful..." - TScottDove
DAY 4b
Day 4 notes... (cont.)
I finished DAY 4 by updating the tree shadows and the little island feature in the bend of the river. I updated the final shadows and reflections along the shoreline.
I finished DAY 4 by updating the tree shadows and the little island feature in the bend of the river. I updated the final shadows and reflections along the shoreline.
DAYS 5 & 6
Days 5 & 6 notes...
I let the painting dry for about 3 weeks before starting this phase. Now we are ready to add the details and foreground. I started by blocking in the treeline and mountain features. I used the reference picture closely at this point.
I let the painting dry for about 3 weeks before starting this phase. Now we are ready to add the details and foreground. I started by blocking in the treeline and mountain features. I used the reference picture closely at this point.
DAY 7
Day 7 notes...
Once I was happy with the tree line I began to lay out the rock formations. Several large bolders in the middle and a large cliff face to the right.
Once I was happy with the tree line I began to lay out the rock formations. Several large bolders in the middle and a large cliff face to the right.
DAY 8
Day 8 notes...
At this point I continued to try to match the reference engraving image for the foreground details. You can see shrubs covering the bolders and several tall tree trunks coming up from around the cliff.
At this point I continued to try to match the reference engraving image for the foreground details. You can see shrubs covering the bolders and several tall tree trunks coming up from around the cliff.
DAY 9
Day 9 notes...
This one is challenging. There are a lot of trees in the foreground and getting the correct contrast proved to be difficult. I redid the foliage in front-center rock cropping near the bottom and there is more coming. (e.g. Large rock on the right and a large tree that you can just make out the trunk for on top of the rock, Plants and smaller greens in the lower right corner.) I'll probably go over the entire painting with a detail brush to get add in the final highlights and deep shadows. I'm thinking of adding some blue flowers in the foreground to the right and more browns into the closer trees and bushes for more color variation.
This one is challenging. There are a lot of trees in the foreground and getting the correct contrast proved to be difficult. I redid the foliage in front-center rock cropping near the bottom and there is more coming. (e.g. Large rock on the right and a large tree that you can just make out the trunk for on top of the rock, Plants and smaller greens in the lower right corner.) I'll probably go over the entire painting with a detail brush to get add in the final highlights and deep shadows. I'm thinking of adding some blue flowers in the foreground to the right and more browns into the closer trees and bushes for more color variation.
WORK IN PROGRESS (WIP)
CRITIQUES FROM ARTIST FORUMS!
(All quotes from www.wetcanvas.com artist forums)
"You got the greens just right. Are you finished with it? Or is there more to this painting. It's very good. the depth is convincing and the winding river gives direction to the composition." - RetrospectiveGlance
DAY 10
Day 10 notes...
Again I broke from the reference material and decided to make the foreground-right less rocky. Notice the flat areas to the right that are covered with short grass. It seems to me this would be a perfect place for people to visit and walk around. I think its more inviting than the wilderness of the original reference image.
Again I broke from the reference material and decided to make the foreground-right less rocky. Notice the flat areas to the right that are covered with short grass. It seems to me this would be a perfect place for people to visit and walk around. I think its more inviting than the wilderness of the original reference image.
WORK IN PROGRESS (WIP)
CRITIQUES FROM ARTIST FORUMS!
(All quotes from www.wetcanvas.com artist forums)
"Hi John...........Been watching this all along your progress. ....this latest post is my favorite. Seems like the highlights on the trees and ground is perfect." - MRSBB
DAY 11
Day 11 notes...
I have extended the grassy flat area all the way to the middle section. I also brought the center tree into the foreground rather than having it come up from behind the rock croppings. Now you could walk right up to it and lean on it while taking in the view. Also, the large tree on the top rock cropping has been added. This is another spot where you could walk up to so that you could see the sights. I started adding the shadows that are being cast by the larger trees. I wanted to give the viewer a sense that that sun was off in the direction of those distant clouds - perhaps just off canvas in the upper-right corner.
I have extended the grassy flat area all the way to the middle section. I also brought the center tree into the foreground rather than having it come up from behind the rock croppings. Now you could walk right up to it and lean on it while taking in the view. Also, the large tree on the top rock cropping has been added. This is another spot where you could walk up to so that you could see the sights. I started adding the shadows that are being cast by the larger trees. I wanted to give the viewer a sense that that sun was off in the direction of those distant clouds - perhaps just off canvas in the upper-right corner.
DAY 12
Day 12 notes...
Ok... now comes all the small shrubs, trees and other foliage in the foreground. I went over the entire foreground to bring out highlights throughout. Notice the tree trunk still in the ground next to the fallen tree. Although its hard to see I made sure the lighting and shadows coming off the trees in the low-lands was consistent with the shadows I added to the foreground.
Ok... now comes all the small shrubs, trees and other foliage in the foreground. I went over the entire foreground to bring out highlights throughout. Notice the tree trunk still in the ground next to the fallen tree. Although its hard to see I made sure the lighting and shadows coming off the trees in the low-lands was consistent with the shadows I added to the foreground.
SLIDE SHOW
While the actual time to complete this painting was about 12 days... those 12 days were spread out over almost 2 months.
I used a combination of wet-into-wet and wet-into-dry techniques. I did NOT use any added mediums in the paint or
artificial dryers - I used the paint as it came straight out the tubes.
Oil #14
"River Through the Adirondacks"
16 x 20 inch (40.6 x 50.8 cm)
Oil on Canvas
John O'Keefe
Winter 2007/2008