Tag Archives: final color layer

Guienne Hanover; Finished but for the Tweaking!

June 30th, 2009 | Posted in Carrie Lewis

The portrait of Gueinne Hanover is now complete except for the tweaking! Praise the Lord!

I worked on the painting on Monday in spite of the fact that some of the previous work was still a little bit tacky. There wasn’t much to do, but it was about the most difficult part of the entire painting: those nasty straight lines and curved lines of the bike!

But it was put in place in the first session, then tweaked a little bit in the next.

I also did some tweaking to the driver, including the rather complicated looking design on the helmet, touched up the race track, and began the lettering at the bottom.

After that, a day or two to dry and I’ll look it over to see if I’ve missed anything and it will be D-O-N-E!

Once that happens, I’ll have to take it to the gallery, where I can place it on an easel and get sufficient light and distance to take a good photograph. It will probably stay there until it’s ready for framing or for delivery, whichever the client chooses.

©Copyright 2009 by Carrie Lewis. See original post here.
To learn more about this artist, visit her website.

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In the Homestretch

June 26th, 2009 | Posted in Carrie Lewis

The last previous work on Guienne Hanover wasn’t completely dry when I went to work the evening of Wednesday, June 24, but I decided to work on the painting anyway.

I started by fine-tuning the horse, especially the front end, but once the lights and middle tones were in place, I dry brushed Lamp Black in the mane and tail and the darkest shadows. I used Transparent Yellow Oxide, Titanium White and small amounts of Transparent Red Oxide for the bay areas and Lamp Black for the darks.

When that was done, I worked on the driver, using the lighter horse colors to start the face, then moving into the uniform with the same greens I’d mixed for grass and other areas. When working this area, I kept the edges softer and more blurred, using my fingers to break up the paint layer especially on the trailing edges. Most of that area is looking much more complete, though there are still some problem areas. Once this work is dry, I’ll add the red shapes and fine-tune the fabric.

The horse is done for the time being and the driver is nearly done. The only remaining areas are the bike itself and the helmet, which will probably be the last thing I do before the final adjustments.

It will probably have to sit over the weekend to approach anything like dry, as hot and humid as it’s been the last few days, but I may be able to begin painting harness before then. I was very happy with the work. I’m not sure it can be done by Saturday, or even by June 30, but I’m determined to get as close as possible.

I have no photographs of the painting to share, since the client hasn’t seen the painting, yet. I will post a photograph when becomes available.

©Copyright 2009 by Carrie Lewis. See original post here.
To learn more about this artist, visit her website.

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A Brief Break from Lesson Paintings

June 16th, 2009 | Posted in Carrie Lewis

I am taking a brief ‘vacation’ from lesson paintings to focus attention on the large portrait of Guienne Hanover that has been on the easel since October 31, 2008, when the first paint was applied to the under painting.

Guienne Hanover (photo by Jeff Coady, Coady Photography) is a five-year-old trotting mare. On October 20, 2007, she became the world’s fastest three-year-old trotting filly when she trotted one mile in 1:51.2 at Colonial Downs. The previous track and world record was 1:54 and the North American record for the same distance was 1:52.

The portrait was purchased at the 2007 Michigan Harness Horseman’s Association benefit auction, but it wasn’t until Guienne Hanover turned in her stunning performance at Colonial Downs that she became the subject of the portrait.

The portrait is 22 inches by 28 inches on prepped masonite 1/4 inch thick and is currently the largest thing I have going. That’s part of the reason it’s taking so long.

It is also a fully landscaped painting designed to capture the moment and setting as well as Guienne Hanover.

While it has not been painted strictly according to the Flemish technique I’m documenting on these pages, it does feature an under painting, followed by color applications in a series of opaque and transparent glazes. Lots of painting, some repainting and lots of waiting for paint to dry!

That, along with a trip or two, a three-day show and two weeks of no studio time due to illness, has led me to decide to focus on this painting above all others for this week or until it’s done, whichever comes soonest.

The portrait is very close to completion, so there is not a lot left to do. Most of the work involves several different areas that just need tweaking. The driver, the bike and finishing the horse are the major things.

On Monday, June 15, I set aside all of my lesson paintings and devoted time to Guienne Hanover. I alternated studio time with writing time, working on the painting until bending over it caused back strain, then taking a break to write or do housework, then back to the painting.

In the first session, I tackled the driver and the bike, both of which feature my two least favorite things to paint…straight lines and curves! Subject and background were worked simultaneously so I could manipulate edges, light and reflected light. I really wanted to finish each area completely before moving on to the next thing, so proceeded a little more slowly than I might otherwise have done.

In the second session for the day, I continued working my way forward by painting both hind legs and the hindquarters of the horse. Because I had already put quite a bit of work into these areas the work went fairly quickly and I was able to get all the way up to the girth without too much difficulty.

©Copyright 2009 by Carrie Lewis. See original post here.
To learn more about this artist, visit her website.

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