Work In Progress: Glade Creek Grist Mill, Update 11 Last week I discussed detail in my paintings and put forward an argument for why detail needs to be saved for the most important areas. Detail in the main subject is important because it keeps focus in that area. Detail elsewhere can be distracting. That argument […]

Work In Progress: Glade Creek Grist Mill, Update 10             Using the full scale drawing as a guide I first drew in the large shrub in front of the Mill. Then, I masked out some irregular splotches to indicate snow. When the masking fluid was dry I painted in the foliage of the evergreen shrub […]

Work In Progress: Glade Creek Grist Mill, Update 9 Painting the Mill is definitely the most interesting part of the project so far. It’s the focus of all the work. It’s the focal point of the painting – the main reason for the painting. It’s the subject that will have the greatest detail and – […]

Now that the background sky is in, the next step is to add the background trees. The background trees are important as a backdrop for the Mill but not important in themselves. Therefore, I don’t want a lot of detail in the trees. I want them suggested but not the star of the painting. The […]

Work In Progress: Glade Creek Grist Mill, Update 7               I’ve spent at least twenty hours developing the composition, including value and color sketches, layouts and drawing the final composition in pencil before going to the painting. I transferred the pencil drawing to 300 lb Arches watercolor paper. The size of the painting will […]