Tag: landscape

Little waterfall and water

It’s been some time since I started this painting – and some time since I finished it. I just haven’t managed to update this blog with it. Which, of course, is a shame. So now I’m going to rectify this!

When I was thinking of a painting, I knew that I wanted water and that the rocks on the bottom should be visible. And a somewhat interesting scene. I’m pretty sure there are some very nice pictures around that fulfil this, but I searched for a while to find some – without luck. My own taste probably has to take some of the blame, but still …

In the end, I made use of AI to make some suggestions, which I in turn used for some inspiration. I have no qualms about using AI that way. Sometimes having something to look at for painting is better than painting directly from imagination.

A calming nature scene

As you see from the painting I show above here, I wanted a little waterfall, too. And the nature hat to fit, of course. So, I had all I wanted: Water, a waterfall, and rocks underwater.

Sketching the broad objects went quickly. Some of the details, too. Or the illusion of details. And then it stopped up for various reasons. But in the end I managed to add the rocks under the water, various degrees of details, and … when I asked the art teacher, she said that yes, now it’s finished.

Personally, I wasn’t sure if it was finished, so I waited a long time before I did ask. I wasn’t sure, because there’s always more that can be done, but I’m not going for photorealism, just a simplified painting, so at some point I have to stop.

And this was the point where I stopped! 😀

Dragon Notebook Cover

Christmas is over and all the presents are unpacked, so now I can show a couple of things I painted. ?

A flying dragon in the moonlight
A flying dragon under the moonlight

First off, the cover of a little sketchbook – or however the recipient wants to use it, as part of the Christmas present. I figured a dragon would be a fitting motive for him and after various attempts on the PC to figure out what kind of dragon, I settled for this.?

I wish it was easier to get nice details on that surface, but it was well received, which is the most important!

Sunflower Field

I am taking classes in acrylic painting this autumn, too. Technically the same class as before, according to the description, but we’ve always just continued from where we were on our path to professional artists. Or on the path to just enjoying painting in itself. This time, with a new teacher, things changed – but more about that in a later post.

Enough about that, except that we do get challenges every time. This summery painting of a sunflower field is the result of such a challenge.

Wonderful clouds over that field, right?

A quick painting, but showing enough variety and detail to … make the impression there are details present. It’s really not, not much.

I think that’s cool!

Cascading Waters

I haven’t forgotten about the traditional, analogue painting in favour of the digital versions, and I have no plans of giving it up. This summer I used acrylics again and painted some cascading waters. Was I finished, or did I need to do more?

I decided that I did not want to do more with it. Does that mean I’m finished with it? Well, let me quote a painter with more experience than me:

A painting is never finished, it is only abandoned

Leonardo da Vinci

Good enough answer?

Cascading waters

Motive is inspired by (i.e. not identical to) a photo I took home on the island where I grew up. It shows that even a little stream can be a nice motive to paint. The motives don’t have to be limited to bigger, amazing views!

The River

A friend of mine took a picture and posted on Facebook – and I instantly fell in love with it and wanted to paint it. Luckily she didn’t mind that, and even more luckily I found a canvas that suited the format perfectly: A tall picture, cell phone format 😉

At 35×70 cm, it’s the largest canvas I had painted on. Funnily enough, it’s also the painting that took shape the quickest for me. Almost like I’m starting to get some experience. Hmmm, could that be so?

Anyway, it’s a nice autumn picture, with the lovely autumn colours.

Motive from Volda

How could I not want to paint this? Sure, it’s a bit more simplistic than the photo I used as a reference, and there are always things I can get better at, but I’m learning! Most importantly though, I’m very happy with this. This is showing my abilities at present, and my current style of painting.

Seeing how I develop, both in knowledge, abilities and style is part of the fun, to be enjoyed in the time that comes. 🙂

By the water

I have finished another painting, with a motive from near Odda. Yep, another nature motive – and in my humble opinion, I’m getting better at it. OK, it’s certainly not photo realism, but the colours are certainly getting more natural painting by painting. Which is what I’m aiming for in this kind of paintings.

Plus, of course, that the result is pleasing.

A lovely view

I painted this one only in the classes in evenings, and for this one, I made a very short video of the progress I did after every class.

My progress, evening by evening.

This view is towards the Folgefonna glacier, of which we can get a glimpse of.

A particular tree

Once upon a time, I was walking up towards a local mountain top. Honest. Despite the beginning, it’s not a fairy tale! Didn’t walk alone, I had good company. But the point is: On the way, we were walking past a tree that I thought looked quite photogenic. So I snapped a photo.

Time came for me to find a new motive for me to paint. Well – why not use one of my photos? Like, the one of a particular tree? So I did.

Yeah. No plein air for me. I need much more experience and paint quicker for that to be a viable alternative for me. Maybe some day, but for now I’m happy when I can paint inside.

So, with the photo next to me, I started to block in the colours.

In the beginning there were bright colours …

The colours weren’t exactly accurate, comepared to the photo, but at least I had got the main shapes in place. And this process went fairly quick. For me. But this was only the beginning. I needed to do more!

Colour changing nature

The colours couldn’t be that bright. While the original photo is quite saturated, I’ve learned that more realistic paintings need to be more moderate to be believable. So to perform the necessary adjustments, colours were changed, and some details added.

I must admit, it looked a lot more “boring” after this, but it’s not always the right thing to go wild and saturated!

So I continued.

Leave the leaves

Some more colour adjusting helped immensely, and the tree shouldn’t be bare. It was autumn. It should be full of green leaves. So I added them.

Ah! This was starting to look like something. While not as saturated scene as I might have wished for, I was happy with what I saw at this point.

Finished!

The last details were added. The painting was finished. The artist was happy. That is, me.

Is it identical to the photo?

Oh no!

But I think it’s a nice representation of what I saw, if simplified. And I’m ready to try a new motive, with new challenges.

What about the original?

OK, some may be interested in seeing how close to the photo the painting is. And I can help you there. I’ll show you:

The photo itself

This is how the original scene is. As you can see, I’ve taken some liberties, and there are definitely some differences. Not only in colours. But it was a very nice inspiration for me, and I’m happy with the result. Which is more important than have it identical. At least this time.

The eagle eyed among you have noticed the square pattern over the picture. This is so that it will be easier to keep the proportions correct when transferring the image to canvas. You may also notice that I don’t have the correct proportions in my painting, compared to the photo.

Yeah. Well. I originally drew it nicely – but painted over the lines when I blocked in the colours – and didn’t bother to draw it in exactly as it was afterwards. I did it quick and dirty after memory.

Still, the lines are there, and if anyone wants to try to paint it themselves, feel free. It would be fun to see the results!