Soft Light

"Lift" 7"x 5" oil on "Gessobord" c. 2012

I have decided to do a series of at least six swan paintings. I had several good reference photos and I was enjoying the subject. I haven't attempted a "series" before, so I thought it would be interesting to try. This painting is the third swan.

The reference photos were taken on a grey day and I wondered if there would be enough contrast to make a good painting. It was exciting getting the photos because the swan came out of the water, walked towards me looking for a hand-out. When I didn't have anything, he flapped his wings in disgust and went back into the water.

The "English Garden" on a sunny day.

I think the overall shape of the swan is beautiful, the colors are a bit subdued because of the overcast day. Even if it doesn't capture all the excitement of that moment, I do like this painting.

Re-Do

Back in November I finished a painting called "Swan Brocade". If you remember my entry back then, I wasn't very happy with the finished painting. After looking at it for a whole month, I decided to paint it closer to reality and forget the fanciful swirls and abstract roses.

My original intent was to have a pattern like a brocade that was intricate and included the swans and roses, to represent the English Garden in Munich.

I liked the second painting results better, but I was unsure of keeping the same title for the painting. I looked up "brocade" in the dictionary, and the description said: "n. a rich fabric woven with a raised pattern, typically with gold or silver thread," I was so thrilled since the painting has gold and silver reflections in the water. I could keep the name! Hurrah for do-overs and happy accidents.