Lights on a far shore...

[john]

Sometimes at sunset the colors in the sky and on the water just boggle the mind. After my last debacle of a painting I figured I would go to the photo for the next and skip my eccentric imagination this time. Besides, nature provides plenty.

This was first time stretching my own raw canvas. And first time using watery acrylics directly on the raw canvas , as per a Youtube video I watched. It was cool because the watery acrylics on the cotton was a little bit like watercolor on paper. But the cotton canvas takes forever to dry. I made some mistakes - like the vertical line near right center - but I learned a lot about the whole process. Next time I might use a little clear gesso first to reduce absorbency. The colors change like crazy from wet to dry and they sort of sink-in and lose a little vibrancy. I hate/love acrylics. One reason to love them are the specialty paints like the white I used that was pearlescent. It gives a nice effect. But I would have an easier time getting the colors right using oils.

This was the photo...

And it's so hard for me to figure the colors out but this is the painting with some far shore and lights added. 16x20 inches after some cropping. C&C welcome.

 

[Triduana]

I think it's beautiful, I just love the softness of it.

 

[Sanlynn]

Very serene. A lovely piece.

 

[Donna T]

Beautiful, peaceful and a real success, John. I can relate to your frustration with the color changes as acrylics dry and think you did a wonderful job of making yours come out so harmonious.

 

[Grapes]

John, beautiful and serene scene. I like the colors.

 

[Terri]

A beautiful, serene painting from a beautiful, serene photo of a beautiful, serene place. You captured this so well - I love that the distant lights on the shoreline show up better in your painting, adding some sparkle.

This was not easy - you make it look easy. Gorgeous. I'm happy that you're pleased enough with it to hopefully do more!

 

[john]

Thanks Kay yeah I never really thought about it but I guess it's those soft transitions of color in sunsets that are so magical. They sort of defy easy description.

Thanks Sanlynn. Ahhhh serenity.

Thanks Donna, what's good about this kind of painting is that even if the colors are off a little it can still work. I don't know how people do portraits in acrylics.

Thanks Grapes

Thanks Terri, yeah I'm fortunate to live near the Long Island Sound and can catch these moments. Really enjoyed this doing this so will probably do more along these lines. Maybe try this one again and get the colors closer. I say probably because my track record for consistency is pretty poor. But I can see paintings like this ending up on some walls which would be nice.

 

[snoball]

Beautiful, soft colors and great idea to add the distant lights. Since you said C&C welcome, I'm going out on a limb and saying that I would have personally liked it much better if you hadn't cut it right in two in the middle. I would have either cropped the bottom or the top to put the shore line at about a third one way or the other. But I do like it.

 

[john]

Beautiful, soft colors and great idea to add the distant lights. Since you said C&C welcome, I'm going out on a limb and saying that I would have personally liked it much better if you hadn't cut it right in two in the middle. I would have either cropped the bottom or the top to put the shore line at about a third one way or the other. But I do like it.

Thanks a lot sno. I thought the same thing after cropping the photo. I have to re-frame the canvas anyway so I'll make the horizon at maybe the 2/5 point. That's one of those "rules" that I hate to admit are correct, but they are. Thanks for reminding me because knowing me I would forget and re-frame it the same way

 

[Artyczar]

Very beautiful. This has calmed me down...for now.

Very good John!