The Ol' Cranberry Pond

[john]

I finally sort of maybe I think completed this one? Who knows. A couple of ducks maybe. Some foreground plants? More realism? The reflections don't match exactly. The photo has some just along the bottom right and left. It might add depth.

This is a local pond that used be part of a cranberry pond here on Long Island. I tried painting this plein air and that was a joke. Hats off to those that do that. This was done inside. Mostly with a ratty cheap bristle fan brush. The trunks were scraped out with a knife. The top has been dry for a while and the bottom is fresh.

14x18 inches oil on canvas panel. Cool back story - the panel had been prepared thirty years ago by my friend's father. He didn't get to paint on it, but I did.

Thanks for looking.

 

[Terri]

Beautiful! I love this calm scene, and your choices of greens throughout. Ducks? Well, another choice, if you think a bit of wildlife enhances this particular scene. I love it as presented - and the reflections look matched well enough to my eye.

That's amazing to learn that the panel had been prepared thirty years ago - and you were the one who finally got to paint on it. Wow! I would think your friend's father would approve.

 

[Enyaw]

Quite realistic in appearance, nice assortment of greens.

 

[Donna T]

John, you did beautiful work on this! I am enjoying zooming in on sections and being surprised by how loose it looks up close. I don’t mind that the reflections don’t match; it’s not a photo. I don’t see the need for ducks because the trees and reflections are enough for me but you do what you feel is best. It’s so nice to put that old canvas to such good use!

 

[john]

Beautiful! I love this calm scene, and your choices of greens throughout. Ducks? Well, another choice, if you think a bit of wildlife enhances this particular scene. I love it as presented - and the reflections look matched well enough to my eye.

That's amazing to learn that the panel had been prepared thirty years ago - and you were the one who finally got to paint on it. Wow! I would think your friend's father would approve.

Thanks Terri. Yeah the fact that the panel was his, and he was a commercial artist/illustrator who I knew, gave me extra motivation. In fact I have a few of his paintings that my friend gave me.

 

[john]

Quite realistic in appearance, nice assortment of greens.

Thanks Wayne. What's interesting is that the greens of the reflections are a little different. It's like the reflections are more the bottom of the branches and so darker. One of those cases where the photo actually looks a little unreal. Doesn't seem logical.

 

[john]

John, you did beautiful work on this! I am enjoying zooming in on sections and being surprised by how loose it looks up close. I don’t mind that the reflections don’t match; it’s not a photo. I don’t see the need for ducks because the trees and reflections are enough for me but you do what you feel is best. It’s so nice to put that old canvas to such good use!

Thanks Donna. I think you're right about the ducks. It would make the painting more about them. Thanks for the feedback.

 

[Jo Castillo]

What a great use for the canvas. Love the painting as is.

 

[Triduana]

I love this! Your trees are fantastic, I love the range of textures and the way you've scraped out the trunks is so effective. I don't really think it needs anything in the foreground, I am so drawn to those trees that I would probably not notice it!