Sun Rising

SunRise, 18 x 20" Oil on canvas covered board

This one will be a testament to how things just don't come together sometimes! I think it was at least 3 years ago ... maybe even more ... that I started this painting. I think one of the reasons it didn't come together for so long is that I didn't have a clear vision of where I was going with this ... but, be that as it may, it had more problems than that!

I painted and really didn't think the colors were right for the lighting - and then, I thought the trees looked all wrong - and then I thought I'd put it away for awhile to think about it. Then I would pick it up again and do something more and feel that made it all even worse (which was getting hard to imagine how it could get worse!) And yet, there was something in the idea and basic structure that I wanted to keep! Then, I sanded (yes, literally) the trees away - and thought some more!

Now you are beginning to see why so many years have gone by from the beginning of this one to its final form! You'll see some of the interim steps below!

Trees sanded away, and redrawn lightly

Tree repainting has begun. I'm still not sure I like what I'm doing!

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So, here's the lesson I've learned - keep at it. Sometimes you learn the most by working through the many problems that continue to come out of a work. Working through them develops ideas, techniques, problem solving skills, and confidence. Its rare that a work comes together without having to work it out! (its nice when it does, but it doesn't happen that way most of the time).

So, I'm happy with the sense of light coming over the horizon - and feel that there is a certain sense of atmosphere in the finished painting. Overall, I'm happy with most of it - and know that there are still areas that don't completely satisfy my artist's eye. I've learned a lot though, and I'm glad to finally feel I've completed what I wanted to do here!