South Island Painting Workshop

2x20" oil on Canvas - "Paradise Valley III"

Here's a painting I finished yesterday of Paradise Valley in the South Island. I was trying to give it a lot more drama than the calm scene in the photograph, so spent a bit of time trying to achieve a glowing look in the river and a wilder atmospheric effect in the mountains. I'll be running a couple of workshops down there in about a week's time and this is the painting we'll be working on in the second day of the workshop. This is the third painting I've done of it in preparation for the workshop - makes it look like I know what I'm doing when I start painting. Looking forward to getting out of the studio again and being with a bunch of painters. Will have a few days to myself too to go and explore with my paints - very much looking forward to that as it's such a stunning area - one of my favorite places in the world. Wish me luck for the workshops - it's always a bit daunting going teaching.

Here's the original photo taken by a friend.

Here's the sketch I built up in the computer using photoshop.

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Comment by summer on October 6, 2009 at 5:46: the painting is really vibrant . love the blues and how you made the picture to the painting come alive . love your work .

Comment by Richard Robinson on September 17, 2009 at 9:01: :-) Thanks Nicki - leaving for my last class in Wanaka in 30 minutes. Been having lots of fun teaching and learning from everyone. Will post photos of the two demos we've done of this painting when I get back.

Comment by Nicki L. Heileson on September 17, 2009 at 5:41: Love it, Love it, Love it!!! The colors are stunning as oppossed to the photo (where they are rather lifeless). Good luck with the classes. I want to come, too