My hope is that the viewer gets a sense of the character of the piece and what this door may mean or represent in their own lives, hopefully a sense of the past and what the future may hold for them as well!
Thanks for allowing me to share with you!
Gary
Adding more detail, attempting to capture the age and character of this door and who may have touched the knob as well as whose hand may have knocked on the door!
I want to draw attention to the Door knob, and the old door hardware that has obviously has had many coats of paint over the years and is "flaking" and "peeling". I begin to add more stress "cracks" in the old paint as well as where the paint on the door has completely flaked off and bare wood is showing.
This one is quite different from any other that I have previously attempted, In that I do not have a "set-up" to constantly refer to for shapes, colors and shadows. I'm really in uncharted territory on this one!
Once the clear overcoat has completely dried I choose a color that I feel will complete and compliment the piece. I mix and lay in the basic colors on the canvas and then add in some variations so the color does not appear all one shade or tone.
I now use a "clear gesso" to reseal the drawing and also to give the canvas some "tooth" for the oil paint to adhere to and make it easier to apply. I apply this with a 2" brush, making sure I cover the entire canvas. Once this is done and completely dry, I can begin to apply my paint.
Gary
First, I am not a teacher or instructor! This is just a commentary of what I do to prior to applying any paint. My first task is to prepare the canvas. For this piece I decide to use a pre-stretched canvas and "prep" the surface with regular white or "opaque" gesso. I apply this with a small spatula and a wide trowel, working the coats to achieve a smooth finish. I usually apply two or three coats; letting each one dry before applying the next. Once the gesso is completely dry (usually 24 hours) I will sand the surface to remove any ridges or high spots left over from the trowel. I then sketch the piece out on the canvas using a soft lead pencil. Once I am satisfied with the the drawing, I spray it with a clear matte aerosol to "fix" the sketch, so it will no longer smear or smudge the pencil lines. I usually let this set for another 24 hours or so before I continue the "prep".
More next time!
Gary
We made it home after an exciting and wonderful cruise to the Hawaiian Islands! I have had this idea rolling around in my head for a while now, not sure how it will be received; but I'm going forward! It is quite a deviation from what I have previously done. This is a piece that may invoke criticism or praise depending on how you preceive it. It will be called "Behold, When I Knock......" I am not a preacher, but am not ashamed to be a Christian either. I am trying something very different here as I explore and try to expand my capabilities as an artist. I have no visual "set-up" and this piece is a composite of several different images I have seen in the past. This sketch is a basic image of a simple old door that I will try to bring to life with detail, color, shadows, and glazing. I will keep a running post of how I proceed. I hope you will enjoy the process as I go along!
Gary