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| Gandalf Triptych work in progress with rough layout of framing and display mock-up |
It has been a bit over two months since my last update about the Gandalf Triptych that I've been working on in my free time. Free time is something is hard to come by. Currently proofing a new book due out in the fall and another due out in August has kept me busy and not painting, but as promised I have made progress.
I've moved into the Focussing Phase of the paintings. This is where the design, lighting and underpainting is completed, and now its time to begin refining details and making smaller decisions. This is one of the hardest parts of painting because what starts out as what appears to be a sloppy mess, begins to come into focus as a storytelling picture, and where I'm most likely to give up and put into my slush pile of unfinished work.
This is very much the adolescent phase of a painting, that every parent of a teenager knows all to well. Conception was the easy part, the growing pains and sleepless nights of early childhood are over, but now its all clumsy, awkward, emotionally distraught pangs of pimply shyness that argues with you at every turn. You think it will never get its act together and turn out okay. But, as every artist and parent will tell you, it all will be okay. Every painting goes through that phase to become the mature, young adult you hoped it would be and you begin to see the adult painting it will become.
Here are a few pics of the triptych as they are now. Click to enlarge and see details.
The next and final painting phase will be the Detail Phase where glazes and details are rendered to finish the pieces. This will be the most time consuming, but least stressful, since all the creative decisions have all been made.
Enjoy
WOC
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| Grey Havens Pt.1 |
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| Grey Havens pt.2 |
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| The Gates of Minith Tirith |
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| Cave of the Goblin King |