A Huge S-T-R-E-T-C-H

This commission is completely different from my regular voice. My collector asked if I could paint lily pads with some koi fish. Michael said, “I would like to feel like I’m standing on a bridge looking directly down into the water.” So…….here’s my sketch. This piece is going to be a HUGE S-T-R-E-T-C-H for me!

The painting is going to be done in the gallery wrap style with the image extending on to the sides of the 36 inch by 48 inch canvas. To make it easier to handle I first paint the sides with Alkyd, a fast drying oil paint in the mixtures I’ll use for the water. The three shades are combinations of Ultramarine Blue + Ivory Black + White.

The painting is attached to cardboard but my sheet is only 40 inches x 48 inches. It leaves me a couple of inches on the top and bottom but is flush with the edge of the canvas on the sides. By going ahead and painting all four sides with the quick drying Alkyd oil paint I won’t have to worry about messing up the water on the edges. I’ll be able to avoid the fish and lily pads that go over, on to the sides, when moving the painting.

Sides are covered! Notice I’ve extended the quick drying color several inches in, all the way around the canvas. This will make it easier to match and continue the color of the water on the rest of the painting. To begin sketching the basic plan I establish the gracefully curved spines of the fish.

Using thin oil washes made of MUD (Ultramarine Blue + Alizarin Crimson) + Liquin the anatomy of the koi is constructed around their backbones.

OK……Fish are drawn in. Lily Pads are the next step….

Reference images are on my laptop, which is placed within easy view on the taboret next to the easel. Please remember as you read through my blog, you may click on this or any of the other images to see them larger.

The canvas can be lowered in order to work on the top edge. The lily pads are basically circles and ovals with a triangular split. They kind of look like the very first Pac-Man games, except they won’t be yellow!

The basic shapes of the Water Lily Flowers are drawn in next.

We’ve got our basic plan all sketched up. Painting begins in the next session. I’ll have to figure out exactly how I’m going to approach this one! Hope you’ll come watch. If you would like to receive an email every time I publish a new post please feel free to subscribe to my blog. CLICK THIS LINK and scroll to the upper right side of the page. You will see a heading EMAIL SUBSCRIPTIONS. Just enter your email address and click the button “Sign me up!”  It’s easy. And if you enjoy my blog please CLICK the FaceBook LIKE Button. As we say in Texas, “Much Obliged!

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