A Painting Day

A Painting Day could refer to any day I am at the easel wielding my brushes. In this case I am referring to a day in the field, especially observing the fauna present. A Painting Day means something has sparked my imagination and I know a painting will result.

For the past several weeks I have been in remote northern Manitoba, with one of the fly-in camps more than 100 miles from other humans. It is the 7th or 8th time I have been in this region and it never grows old. Watching the tundra turn its brilliant fall colors is a treat. Being in the company of polar bears, wolves, peregrine falcons, arctic fox, snow geese, sandhill cranes, black bears, and more, is thrilling. Almost every day was a painting day and many days finished with my head spinning with ideas.

In one 24-hour period I saw eight different polar bears (male, mom with twin cubs of this year, mom with twin cubs of last year, and another male.) Less than 2 days later I had a close encounter with a pack of wolves. The list goes on and on.

Below is one of the many, many photos I took of the mom with twin cubs of this year. That was a good Painting Day.

My thanks to Churchill Wild and Webbers Lodges for once again making this trip possible.

Finished

Fontana del Pantheon

Original Oil

 16" X 16"

The Main Attraction

I have been anxious to paint this dolphin/serpent creature; exploring the flowing textures and applying the brights. (The lightest color can also be seen in the very outside edge of the shield and the top right visible corner of the fountain.)

My mythical creature did not disappoint me. He seems a happy watery "beastie," and the darks and bright lights really wake up the painting.

A full reference suite

Fortunately, when I was here I took lots of reference shots around the fountain. One of the main ones I am using for inspiration was cut off at the shield on the left. Since I had multiple photos, I could look at them and work out the details which were missing.
If I find a scene at all interesting (and few are not), I'll take as many reference shots as time allows. Then, I'll set the camera aside and soak it in with my eyes, ears, nose, and hands  - memorizing the essence of the place. And maybe that is the most important reference of them all.