Large Painting

[Sharon Casavant]

I am about to undertake a large painting in oil.  It is 4 ft by 2 ft horizontal.  I want to paint Mount Rainier in Washington.  The mountain is off to the right, not taking up the whole painting.  Any suggestions how to go about this?  I have printed out some photos and taped them together so far.

[Karlo Bonacic]

yes I noticed  - is it better , maybe still that "funny little ridge" - to break this straight line little, or to fade some part..(if you look the photo maybe you see more), and also this greens in valley looks little too green to me (maybe to "kill" it with little red in it) ...Maybe also the lake can be bigger left...Not sure really, just some thoughts...Normally when

[Stuart J. Gourlay]

Sharon, Photoshop Elements you have to buy, but Gimp is free from www.gimp.com.  The other free photo program (and I don't know how good the editing capabilities are) is Picasa, and that is free from Google.  Your painting is looking better and better, and I see that you have remembered to feflect your sky colors into your snow and highlights.  Great job; Mt. Rainier is really starting to glow and that funny looking ridge is starting to fade a little.  Stu

[Sharon Casavant]

I also added a little bit of fogginess, don't know if you can notice it or not, Karlo.

[Sharon Casavant]

Tried to download photo elements, but am not sure about gimp.  I don't want my computer to crash from overload of downloads!  Oh, well.  I've gotten along without it so far.  Here is my recent work ont the Large Painting.  I am happy with the results so far, I added more thick white on Mount Rainier, and some revines on both the hill in front of Mtn. R.  I have to tone down the Kelly green at the beginning of the forest on the right side. 

[Sharon Casavant]

ok, will try that also.  (after the rain)  I remember, it does help to look at it on the computer, in black and white.  I am going to try and download photoshop elements now. 

I appreciate all the help I am getting!

[Stuart J. Gourlay]

Sharon, you are really doing well on this.  It is kind of like a community art project with so many good suggestions.  One of the things that I do during the painting process is to take a good photo of the work by putting on the ground in a shady area.  I put a piece of white paper under one edge to use to white balance it and then crop it after the white balance.  I can then take a good look at the whole thing on my computer, make some Notans and black and white value studies, and apply tweaks in areas that need them.  Pretty easy with a digital camera and any photo editor.  If you do not have a photo editor, unload a free one that works like photoshop elements from www.gimp.com.  Keep up the good work and thanks for sharing it with all of us.   Stu

[Karlo Bonacic]

at left side hills you have achieved that atmosphere effect nicely

[Sharon Casavant]

I like your suggestions, thanks!  I know it needs some atmosphere effects.

[Karlo Bonacic]

maybe some fogginess in the bottom of biggest hill and to create some atmosphere effect on green valley (far - near)..Also the change of color in distance (greens). Just some thoughts .. too complicate more..Hope not too much

[Karlo Bonacic]

maybe the big hill will stand out if you try some bluish shadows...(i know that it is far away but bigger heights means also less atmosphere effect - less dense air..) I post photos of 2 of my try with mountains - some years ago..)