Above is a photo of a model bell tower (3" diameter) I made as a reference for the Liberty Bell painting that I'm working on. I didn't feel confident about painting the lighting/shadows just from my mind's eye, so I decided to make something to observe.
As I said in the last post, I am currently working on two commissions for Beneficial Bank. Both are to be 3'x5' oil paintings of historical scenes. I have just completed final drafts for each painting. There were many false starts and dead ends along the way, some of which I'll describe below (click images to view larger). This painting will highlight the intriguing history of Beneficial Bank, which was founded in 1853. Beneficial Bank’s foundation was inspired by Saint John Neumann's vision of providing a secure place for Philadelphia's working class to deposit their savings. For those interested a slightly less abridged history, click "Read More" at the bottom of this post.
ST. NEUMANN AT THE DOCKS
Tried out a few different color changes in photoshop and settled on this for the final draft. Next Wednesday: I've begun working on one of the 3'x5' panels, check back next week to see the beginning of the actual painting! There will be a new post each Wednesday by 7:00 PM. For the curious, click "Read More" below for a little more about the history behind this painting.
I am currently working on two commissions for Beneficial Bank. Both are to be 3'x5' oil paintings. One will depict the Liberty Bell, the other will depict a dock scene. To begin, I need to make a fully resolved drawing which will then serve as the foundation for the painting. I redesign and redraw until I am completely happy with every aspect. In my experience, this phase takes just as much time (if not more) than the painting itself! I've already worked through tons of drafts for each piece, some of which I'll describe below (click on images to view larger). The liberty Bell
At last, I arrived at a final draft, and eagerly moved on to color. I decided to set the scene at sunrise given the opportune eastern view. I also added the bell's inscription. Before beginning a final painting, I would still need to do one last study of the bell and the figure to clarify the details in my mind. I will also be including a kite in the distance and candle as nods to Ben Franklin, though the positioning of these are still to be determined.
In my next post, which should be up sometime next week, I will go over the drafting process behind the other painting. |