Saturday, December 13, 2014

"Moonlight" - 18" x 18" Acrylic Painting Progress

swan head detail WM

Here are some in progress photos of my latest piece, "Moonlight" which I started on September 28, 2014 and finished on November 27, 2014.

I didn't have an agenda for this piece as far as the subject when I started, but I did want to stick with a limited color palette. I tend to thrown a lot of color on my pieces (which I love, obviously) but this was a way to challenge myself and see what would come.

swan paint palette WM
My limited palette

About halfway through, I walked into my art room with the lights off, so the only light coming in was pre-sunrise glow. It was then that I saw the swan and I went from there.

I'm thrilled with the results. This is 18" x 18" piece on 2" deep canvas with sides painted red. That doesn't show up in these images, but it adds a nice finishing touch.

moonlight_1

moonlight_2
This is when I saw the swan and decided the direction to take it.

moonlight_2 detail1

moonlight_2 detail2

moonlight_2 detail3

moonlight_3
After I decided on the swan, I got started on the body and other details. 

moonlight_4
I created more contrast, added more branch imagery and played with movement and flow.

Moonlight-finished
The finished piece with refined details and repeating dot pattern

I hope you enjoyed seeing my process with this piece. I'm smitten with it and look forward to more limited palette painting.


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