Animals by Barry
Evolution of My Artwork:
Step by Step
Trumpeter Swans
Acrylic on linen canvas
30" x 40"
The background for my Trumpeter Swans painting (acrylic on linen canvas 30”x40”) will be dark water.
The Trumpeter Swan is the world’s largest swan species and North America’s largest waterfowl. In much of North America, the European Mute Swan has replaced this magnificent native species.
This painting will depict these birds as majestic and powerful (rather than delicate and romantic as swans are typically depicted)
They can be identified by a narrow red edge on a solid black beak. They do not have a bump on the head, are very large, and solid white in color.
I first covered my canvas with 2 layers of black gesso.
I next applied washes of 2 different very dark green/brown colors in broad horizontal streaks. The result is an almost-black background.
I will apply my layout next.
I have applied my layout to the Trumpeter Swans painting.
I have used white India ink as it is visible over the dark background, correctable until dry, permanent and fully compatible with the acrylics I will be working with.
I am painting the background and foreground of my Trumpeter Swans painting first. This will avoid compromising the edges of the birds I will paint later.
The foreground will show ripples and reflections. I plan for the background to vignette into very dark space with a large empty space at the upper left.
After I paint the birds I will again look at this and possibly make changes based on how it works with the subjects.
I begin the water with a dark green color (that form the under color for green highlights) and a fairly dark blue/grey color (that will form the under color for white reflections).
These colors were custom mixed to go with the colors that will go on later.
I am not yet working on the birds, but since I was working with this blue/gray under color I put some of it where I will want it later in the birds.
I have added small amounts of 2 new greens and a new tan color primarily to the water of my Trumpeter Swans painting. These are the major colors in the water. Additional water highlights will still be added but I will also be working on the birds now.
Today I completed the under-colors for my Trumpeter Swans painting. Then I applied fine-line white highlights to the water and began putting some white detailing only in areas of the birds that will appear almost totally white.
In this step I first added another layer of a different black in the black water areas. This adds more depth of color to the darkest areas.
Next I applied a detail layer of varying shades of very light blue/white to the Trumpeter Swan in the front. I have defined the individual feathers but the colors are a bit off from what I want but this does not matter because it will be addressed with the next detailing layer. The further Swan (on the right) has mostly not been worked on yet.
Next I put similar detailing into the further swan and worked in a little bit of yellow/white into both birds.
I have applied white highlighting details to the male Trumpeter Swan.
I first applied fine crisp white lines to each feather (one at a time) and immediately wiped, with pieces of paper towel, to soften and shade. This process was repeated multiple times until each feather was just rite.
After repeating this step with the other bird I will work a very small amount of black glaze into some of the shadow areas.
I have not yet begun work on the faces (eyes and beaks). This will be done last.
I am beginning work on the faces (beaks and eyes) of my Trumpeter Swans painting.
I applied a heavy layer of deep dark black and let it dry. Then I applied details of blues, white, grays and red.
At this point these details appear harsh and unnatural. That is deliberate. I will be applying many layers of varnishes with additional colors sandwiched between the clear layers. This will produce a natural looking translucent appearance with a sculptured low relief surface.
I have added the white feather detailing to the female right side) Trumpeter Swan. Then I added a new blue/white feather highlight color and black glaze for shadow detail.
Essentially everything except the faces (I have not begun work on the faces yet) is done.
I will also be doing some varnish effects and minor touch-ups if I find something I don’t like.
Trumpeter Swans is almost done.
Just varnish effects, photographing it, and framing to go.
This one will have a black metal floater frame.