Painting Name: Vicki's Pond
Because of Etsy, because of koi ponds and perhaps also because of keywords, Vicki found me on Etsy because she liked my artwork, especially of koi ponds. She commissioned a painting from me to paint her pond - even though she resides several states over from me. Pretty awesome, right?
SKU: 01D24ACGC
What Brought About this Painting?
Woohoo, so let's go!
Painting in Progress Images…
Watch the painting as it progresses!
Friday, January 26, 2024 10am. Paintings start with several layers of gesso that prepare the stretched canvas with a smoother finish for receiving the paint. The canvas is white and so is the gesso I am using, so there is not a lot to look at for the moment. I'll put usually 3-4 layers of gesso and those need to dry (and sometimes be sanded) before the sketching on the canvas can begin. Then its off to the races!
Sometimes it takes a couple of days to have something on canvas decent enough to show, but the gesso has begun!
Tuesday, January 30, 2024 8:34am. I have the sketching of the pond done and am now doing the underpainting in a Burnt Umber. So the canvas is a lot of brown at the moment. Underpainting is NOT pretty so be aware of that in this picture below. I'll probably build in a couple of layers of the paint to really fill in a base of paint to work with. Bare with me, it will start looking like something in a bit.
When I paint, I usually start from the farthest thing away in the painting and move forward from there. I build layers, LOTS of layers. For instance, in a landscape with the sun showing, I would start with the sun, then the sky plus clouds, mountains, then more forward. Doesn't mean that you may or may not see all of that but if trees are in the foreground, the sun, sky and clouds may be partially seen so they must be back there.
Same here for this painting. Although the fence is not a focal point, it is in the background so I have to have some of it - or hints of it, be seen. Back to painting and let's see where the next update goes.
Thursday, February 1, 2024 8:38am. Good morning - what do you know, the sun is shining here in Northern Virginia! And its The Chosen Season 4 Episodes 1-3(?) day in the theaters! Can't wait to see it over the next few weeks.
Thursday, February 1, 2024 5:02pm. The 3 P's. Progress, Progress, Progress. I'm getting hungry.
Friday, February 2, 2024 1:42pm. Stuff is starting to bloom all over.
Saturday, February 3, 2024 6:08am. Let's see what kind of progress can happen today! Bit of glare at the top of the canvas from the lights above it. In person, so much more intense color - and detail. That's what I do.
Wednesday, February 7, 2024 8:02am This picture includes light coming through the blinds this morning...Some new things starting to appear around the pond.
Wednesday, February 7, 2024 4:07pm The really cool thing about a deep canvas is painting the edges - all around. Never know what you might find there too. I've done this with a couple of paintings, where there was more to the story of the painting if you look around the edge.
Friday, February 9, 2024 6:25pm Finishing up the painting at this point, adding some small tweaks and ensuring the edges are smoothed out. Looking for anything unfinished - which I see one thing right in the middle to do...
And believe it or not, its a good idea to turn the painting upside-down and see how it feels. A different light, in another room, lets you see it differently. A painter knows when its done.
Photos are pre-varnishing and wiring but I think its done!
Let me know if you like my paintings and if you need a handmade, original painting for yourself or as a gift for a friend or family member. If you want to commission me to do a painting for you, please contact me through this blog, on Facebook, My Website at https://DonnaLiguriaArt.com, or go to Donna Liguria Art on Etsy at https://donnaliguriaart.etsy.com to shop my available Artwork.
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