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| Dream Lake - an artists' days in the life of an oil painting, circa 2003 - Millie Carrée |
Dream Lake © Roy Dahl - professional Photographer. Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado |
First, permission from the photographer to use this beautiful photograph. Off to buy a canvas, 16" x 20", already stretched and primed. Then, at right, >>>>> a quick sketch on paper Millie Millie |
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| The sketch familiarizes and sets the picture in my mind and on my finger tips. First paint on canvas, wet on wet oil; working from the upper background up through the layers of the photograph, I use a broad brush and apply the sky; white and ultramarine blue. The edges of the mountain appear, mixing white, the blue, and pure black to make a bluish grey | The large shadow of the mountain cliff is a concern - so I tackle it first. Shadows and highlights are all in various shades of blue, white and black. I nudge the edges against the sky, a slight, crisp meeting. Now some touches of raw sienna, lightly or darkly as needed. | More detail, still working wet on wet oil. Brushing a bit more blue into crevasses and more burnt sienna into what will be the background. Now basic sap green is added in darker and lighter concentrations, tiny trees in the distance. Building also more distinct edges to the mountain. You can see the mountain is taking on a bit different personality than the photograph. More bold. The artists prerogative. |
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While sketching the mountain, a face appeared that did not exist. I
vaguely paint in this outline, then let it rest. More trees, still using
sap green in various shades. They become a big larger as the picture
comes forward. Next I lay down a beige background using the raw sienna
and white. And lay down blue for the coming lake. It's March 19, 2003. War is imminent with Iraq. My spirit sags. |
Not sure what final color I'm seeking for the lake, though it's in my mind - I mix white, ultramarine blue and sap green, respective amounts. It will become the background for the bottom portion of the picture. Don't like the color - it's time to clean the brushes and work again tomorrow. |
The trees are meeting the lake now. And the lake has become a deeper
ultramarine blue with a hint of sap green. It's March 20. We've had a
blizzard here and all roads are closed. My friend of over 50 years, confidante and beloved sister-in-law, Rose, died two days ago. We are unable to go to her funeral 300 miles away to the North. War has started in Iraq. |
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The pile of huge rocks begins to emerge. The white and grays of the
mountain persist. Some reflections. Rocks are easy to make, they say.
NOT. I've always been a rock hound, and believe that's one reason I love the mountains. What huge, breathtaking, rocks! |
More trees appear, with an additional color of permanent green - a color
from my original set of oils. Not used much but I want to brighten the
work a little. A little bush appears in the middle of the lake - it will find it's footing later. It is snowing. |
The beautiful, dead, weathered and twisted tree in the foreground comes
to life. What spectacular presence it gives the photograph and painting
- using a combination of black, white and burnt sienna with just a tiny
touch of cadmium yellow. The large rocks in the foreground begin to emerge. |
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A skinny tree evolves into an impressive evergreen. And more burnt
sienna plus cadmium yellow overlay it's branches. Time to stop and let
the picture rest (and myself). I'll let the paint dry a few days. A weekend of driving (real, paying work) bring some distance from the painting and a chance for private thoughts. The snow is finally melting. |
OK! The evergreen tree becomes a lovely blue spruce. The lake takes on a deeper color. More detail in the background. It's March 27 and a week ago a blizzard was raging. It's snowing seriously again. It's nearly finished. I'll tweak it a bit tomorrow. It's difficult to learn when to stop! |
March 28, 2003. This page is about the life of a painting, and the
painter. And so life intrudes. And death. Close on the heels of his
Rose, ten days later, my brother, George Terry, dies. This time we are
able to travel to the funeral. Spring is here and still it snows, lightly, sadly; beautiful. |
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I go to replenish art supplies at my favorite place, and find the roof
collapsed from the blizzard last week. I'll have to find another source
for awhile. I have only a half hour or so of work left on the
painting but it's hard to settle to it. I finesse the edges of the big pile of rocks, fuss with the background trees and then sign it. Total hours of work? I haven't the slightest idea! It seems only a moment of work, but years in time. Click on the photo at left for a large version of the painting. click on the photo and then close that window to return. Thank you for "listening". Millie - E-mail me |
| Every artist learns and grows with time. The paintings change - some a great deal and some only slightly. My genre is wildlife and landscapes. Living in the midst of a large city, it sometimes takes great imagination to complete a painting, even from a photograph. But I've actually seen every animal I've ever painted and most of the scenery. I sincerely hope you enjoyed this short trip through the life of a painting and that it gives some idea of the influences on an artist of every day life. Your artist friend, Millie |
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