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Play in Progress
Here are some progress shots of the painting that I'm currently playing on (I don't call it "work in progress" because it's too much fun to create). The most recent shots are at the beginning, so just scroll to see how the painting came together. Click on the image to see a larger version.
SECRETS OF THE SEA CAVE
I've painted a lot of boats inside bottles over the years, and a long while back, it occurred to me that it would be neat to paint a shipwreck inside a bootle that was filled with water. The only thing I couldn't decide upon was what kind of background to use. That question was answered in the summer of 2024 when I visited "The Ovens" in Lunenburg County, Nova Scotia, a place famous for its gorgeous underwater caves. One such cave is accessed by a set of steps carved into the rocks themselves. It was perfect for the Pirate theme I was going for! I immediately composed the scene roughly - the idea being that the bottle would be seated on a chest with the cave opening and the stone staircase visible in the background. When I shared this idea online, someone suggested that I should include an octopus and I thought it was a fabulous idea, especially if I could have the tentacles visible wrapped around the bottle and distorted by the water. I nicknamed the Octopus "Otta". This is her biography...
Sept 4, 2024
After some consideration, I've decided that I will title this painting with a name right out of a Hardy Boy Mystery:
"Secrets of the Sea Cave"
Click through to see the progress pictures of this painting coming together...
"Secrets of the Sea Cave"
Click through to see the progress pictures of this painting coming together...
Sept 1, 2024
We're so close now!
Those little strips of white are the only sections in Otta's painting that need to be finished!
Full disclosure: I didn't know exactly how I was going to fill this area until yesterday. The source pictures of the cave mouth and the stairs were taken from slightly different angles and I didn't have a good image to help me figure out how they should join up. There also railings and support beams in the way. Luckily, when I was at The Ovens sea caves yesterday, I was able to photograph the area from a good angle, and I've interpreted it here. I still have to play with colours and shadows to make it work the way I want it to.
Those little strips of white are the only sections in Otta's painting that need to be finished!
Full disclosure: I didn't know exactly how I was going to fill this area until yesterday. The source pictures of the cave mouth and the stairs were taken from slightly different angles and I didn't have a good image to help me figure out how they should join up. There also railings and support beams in the way. Luckily, when I was at The Ovens sea caves yesterday, I was able to photograph the area from a good angle, and I've interpreted it here. I still have to play with colours and shadows to make it work the way I want it to.
Aug 30, 2024
Oh look, ANOTHER progress shot of Otta's Hideaway (oh wow, did I just come up with a title?) even though I said I wasn't going to be posting any more but, to be fair, it doesn't show the whole painting, so it still maintains the mystery. I just love the way the stone stairs are turning out, so I had to share.
There is actually still a fair amount of painting to do. There are a couple of white spaces left, and then I have to adjust some overall details, balance some colours, and add shome shadows. Also, I'm still not totally happy with the shipwreck in the bottle, but don't know what to do to fix it.
Ah well. That's a challenge for another day!
There is actually still a fair amount of painting to do. There are a couple of white spaces left, and then I have to adjust some overall details, balance some colours, and add shome shadows. Also, I'm still not totally happy with the shipwreck in the bottle, but don't know what to do to fix it.
Ah well. That's a challenge for another day!
Aug 27, 2024
Oh look, an unexpected progress shot of my latest painting!
I just wanted to show how the stone stairway was developing. It's a slow process because there are a lot of rocks, and I'm taking my time making sure I get the scale right as well as making them look like they're wet and slippery.
It's also one of my favourite parts of a painting's development: when the background starts to take shape around the foreground object, giving it more dimension and depth (especially when bottles are concerned because, with darkness behind the bottle now, you can really see the white edge).
There's also a lot more colour on the rocks in this area of the cave, making it look even more like a bejeweled pirate's hideout!
I just wanted to show how the stone stairway was developing. It's a slow process because there are a lot of rocks, and I'm taking my time making sure I get the scale right as well as making them look like they're wet and slippery.
It's also one of my favourite parts of a painting's development: when the background starts to take shape around the foreground object, giving it more dimension and depth (especially when bottles are concerned because, with darkness behind the bottle now, you can really see the white edge).
There's also a lot more colour on the rocks in this area of the cave, making it look even more like a bejeweled pirate's hideout!
Aug 15, 2024
... and we have ourselves a sea cave!
This will likely be the last progress shot I post since I'm so close to being finished! I just have the stone staircase to paint, before I go through the entire painting and add the finishing touches (which includes, but is not limited to, putting detail into the rocks, making Otta's colouring consistent, and enhancing the shadows). I also really have to find a way to make the shipwreck inside the bottle stand out a little more, something I don't want to attempt until the dark background is fully finished, since that alone will (hopefully) make the bottle stand out more.
I'll post a high-quality scan once it's done!
This will likely be the last progress shot I post since I'm so close to being finished! I just have the stone staircase to paint, before I go through the entire painting and add the finishing touches (which includes, but is not limited to, putting detail into the rocks, making Otta's colouring consistent, and enhancing the shadows). I also really have to find a way to make the shipwreck inside the bottle stand out a little more, something I don't want to attempt until the dark background is fully finished, since that alone will (hopefully) make the bottle stand out more.
I'll post a high-quality scan once it's done!
Aug 10, 2024
It rained most of today, so I brought my easel inside from the gazebo and set it up in the living room so I could be close to everyone who were kind enough to let me spend the bulk of the day painting!
It was a very productive day, and I was able to get the cave ceiling started and fill in the ripples in the water around Otta's head.
I'm loving how it's adding depth to the painting and beginning to fufill my goal of getting the background dark enough to help the lighter bottle stand out more.
It was a very productive day, and I was able to get the cave ceiling started and fill in the ripples in the water around Otta's head.
I'm loving how it's adding depth to the painting and beginning to fufill my goal of getting the background dark enough to help the lighter bottle stand out more.
Aug 7, 2024
For a time, I was cursing my decision to include sea foam in the painting because of the extra detail required to render it, but now I'm very happy with the way it turned out!
July 18, 2024
I've finished the foreground of my painting-in-progress!
Well, more or less.
The background will be mostly dark. I want the shipwreck in the bottle to stand out more, but don't want to play with it too much until I see how it contrasts with the rocks behind it.
I've apparently hidden a minion in the painting inadvertently (just beneath the neck of the bottle, it looks like one is peeking over the edge of the chest). I may have to adjust that if it distracts me too much!
Well, more or less.
The background will be mostly dark. I want the shipwreck in the bottle to stand out more, but don't want to play with it too much until I see how it contrasts with the rocks behind it.
I've apparently hidden a minion in the painting inadvertently (just beneath the neck of the bottle, it looks like one is peeking over the edge of the chest). I may have to adjust that if it distracts me too much!
July 17, 2024
I've painted a few more of the wood boards that make up the lid of the chest in my painting in progress.
If you're wondering where I got the reference pics for the wood grain, I went around the house and took pictures of the interesting-looking knots and swirls of our hardwood floors from the appropriate angles, then just painted them directly from my phone's screen.
If you're wondering where I got the reference pics for the wood grain, I went around the house and took pictures of the interesting-looking knots and swirls of our hardwood floors from the appropriate angles, then just painted them directly from my phone's screen.
July 17, 2024
This morning, I sketched in all of the strips of wood that made up the chest's lid and applied a background wash to them. Then I noticed that I'd messed up the scale and made the strips way too thin.
For reference, the metal bands are, in reality, about two inches wide and the bottle measures ten.
So I set about widening the portion of wood that I had painted last night, and feel much better about the results.
For reference, the metal bands are, in reality, about two inches wide and the bottle measures ten.
So I set about widening the portion of wood that I had painted last night, and feel much better about the results.
July 16, 2024
Tonight, I painted my first piece of wood on the wooden chest on which Otta and the items she's holding are sitting.
July 16, 2024
I decided to paint all three of the strongbox's metal bands at the same time rather than risk waiting too long and forgetting how it was that I did it the first time. It's something that has happened to me before!
July 16, 2024
I've begun painting the metal bands on the strongbox in my latest composition. I wouldn't even say I'm using watercolours to do it, since, to bring out the texture of the paper, I'm barely using any water. In fact, you might say that I'm painting with "moistcolours."
Badum-tish.
Anyhoo, this will require multiple layers with multiple colours to achieve the weathered metal look I want. I'm also using an old brush since I'm not being all that gentle with it.
Badum-tish.
Anyhoo, this will require multiple layers with multiple colours to achieve the weathered metal look I want. I'm also using an old brush since I'm not being all that gentle with it.
July 15, 2024
I've finished the compass!
Well, for now. I may adjust shading and shadows as I fill in the background. I may also weather the card part of the compass (that is already shown as being slightly bent), and give it some extra shadow, but it all depends on how dark the background ends up being.
Well, for now. I may adjust shading and shadows as I fill in the background. I may also weather the card part of the compass (that is already shown as being slightly bent), and give it some extra shadow, but it all depends on how dark the background ends up being.
July 15, 2024
The first of my embossed figures is taking shape...
July 14, 2024
I'm in the process of making the mariner's compass in my painting-in-progress look rustic. I was originally going to replicate a wood grain, but then decided that paint, worn off by years of use, would look more interesting.
Then there's the glazing material that holds the glass cover of the compass in place. I want to paint it so that it looks old and cracked.
Then there's the glazing material that holds the glass cover of the compass in place. I want to paint it so that it looks old and cracked.
July 12, 2024
The compass is starting to take shape! And depth.
July 11, 2024
One of my favourite things to paint is texture and to render an object so that it has depth. I am beyond happy at how the newly completed parchment seems to leap off the paper! When I was first starting, I felt that it was too dark, but I'm glad I stuck with it!
July 9, 2024
And, as quick as you can say the magic words ("A la peanut-butter sandwiches", of course), I've added the pencil outline of an ancient mariner's compass to the developing painting.
I still have to adjust some labels, and figure out how one of Otta's tentacles will be interacting with the compass, but I'm happy with the way it looks so far.
I still have to adjust some labels, and figure out how one of Otta's tentacles will be interacting with the compass, but I'm happy with the way it looks so far.
July 8, 2024
Otta is now firmly embracing the bottle!
More shading and shadows to follow, but I want to fill on more of the surroundings first.
One thing I like about the creative process is leaving it open enough to make changes on the fly. I have to change the small penciled-in tentacle under the front of the bottle since it has to be thicker, and I've decided to have it coiled around an ancient mariner's compass sitting on the chest directly beneath the cork area of the bottle.
More shading and shadows to follow, but I want to fill on more of the surroundings first.
One thing I like about the creative process is leaving it open enough to make changes on the fly. I have to change the small penciled-in tentacle under the front of the bottle since it has to be thicker, and I've decided to have it coiled around an ancient mariner's compass sitting on the chest directly beneath the cork area of the bottle.
July 4, 2024
One of the challenges of painting a subject like this is to make sure the skin grooves are consistent and not haphazard. This is especially important in areas where the tentacles come together, and the direction of pull overlap.
I still have to go back afterwards and add some more detail as well as add some more shading for depth. Also, now that I've got a real feel for how it's done, I'll have to go back to the first tentacle I painted and make some adjustments to keep it consistent
I still have to go back afterwards and add some more detail as well as add some more shading for depth. Also, now that I've got a real feel for how it's done, I'll have to go back to the first tentacle I painted and make some adjustments to keep it consistent
June 28, 2024
I've been so busy with field trips and other errands over the last few weeks during the part of the day that would normally be my creative time, that I haven't had much of a chance to paint! Also, I didn't want to post another progress shot until the bottle, and the shipwreck within, were done.
Well, they're mostly done. I may have to adjust shadows and contours once the surroundings are filled in.
Well, they're mostly done. I may have to adjust shadows and contours once the surroundings are filled in.
June 10, 2024
Getting some broad strokes taken care of today, adding the background colours to the ship, sand, and magnified tentacle with the goal of subtly manipulating tone and shadows to highlight the shipwreck.
June 9, 2024
On a whim, I decided to give the shipwreck a figurehead!
June 9, 2024
OK, time to pull out my smallest paintbrushes!
WHARFSIDE REFLECTIONS
This painting is based on a picture of a foggy Nova Scotian fishing wharf that I took on Canada day 2023. The title is a nod to my previous painting "Dockside Reflections" because the theme is so similar: namely, that the dock in the foreground is reflected in the water and the background fades away in the mist.
wharfsideReflectionsByDwayneJames_noText.jpg
Aug 5, 2023
I'm almost done the main part of the painting, all that's left after I finish the warehouse and blend the foggy trees some more is the experimental part I've been thinking about. It may or may not work. If it doesn't, I risk ruining the original but at least I can photoshop it out of the prints!
I don't plan on posting anymore progress shots, so the next post will be the final product!
I don't plan on posting anymore progress shots, so the next post will be the final product!
July 31, 2023
It feels like I've been painting this for months, but the photo on which it is based was taken on July 1st!
Here's the latest progress with some of the warehouse and the foggy trees in the background complete.
Here's the latest progress with some of the warehouse and the foggy trees in the background complete.
July 21, 2023
... and now the fishing boat has a reflection too!
July 19, 2023
Here's the latest on my latest. I've added the reflection of the trees in the water beneath the wharf...
July 16, 2023
Got a chance to paint today for the first time in days, and added some more detail to the wharf....
July 8, 2023
I was painting too much today to do any painting 😀. (I've been painting the outside of my house).
Here's the latest on my watercolour painting in progress. I've got more of the wharf done.
There was no flag in the original picture, but I figured, since the picture was taken on Canada Day, it needed to be added.
Here's the latest on my watercolour painting in progress. I've got more of the wharf done.
There was no flag in the original picture, but I figured, since the picture was taken on Canada Day, it needed to be added.
July 7, 2023
Zoom in on the boat, eh?
I've got the preliminary play done on the fishing boat. One of the things I love about watercolours is how they can make things like the antenna structure look misty if I use lots of water and don't overwork the area. The background is supposed to be shrouded in fog, after all.
I've got the preliminary play done on the fishing boat. One of the things I love about watercolours is how they can make things like the antenna structure look misty if I use lots of water and don't overwork the area. The background is supposed to be shrouded in fog, after all.
July 5, 2023
Here's the pencil outline for my next painting. Based on a photo I took on Canada Day, it has all my favourite things to paint: rocks, old wood, old buildings, and (of course) boats. You can't see it now, but the whole background will be shrouded in fog. I have something new I want to try. Fingers crossed that it will work!
Next step is to research old fishing warehouses to see how I can decorate this one...
Next step is to research old fishing warehouses to see how I can decorate this one...
LIGHTING IN A BOTTLE
I've been very much enjoying painting boats inside bottles over the last few years, so I'm going to shake things up and paint a lighthouse inside the bottle this time! The fabulous background is from a trip to Grand Manan Island in the Bay of Fundy.
June 16, 2023
Presenting the finished watercolour painting: "Lighting in a Bottle!"
Visit the product page for this painting to get more information about how it came to be and the Easter Eggs hidden within. It's a long story, but it's well worth the read!
Visit the product page for this painting to get more information about how it came to be and the Easter Eggs hidden within. It's a long story, but it's well worth the read!
June 11, 2023
I can't remember if I've already mentioned that I'm planning on calling this painting "Lighting in a Bottle." Figured it made sense and was an amusing play on words.
Anyway, here's today's progress. I've finished the rocks surrounding the bottle, and have tried to render the ones in behind as if they're slightly out of focus.
Now on to the sea and sky!
Anyway, here's today's progress. I've finished the rocks surrounding the bottle, and have tried to render the ones in behind as if they're slightly out of focus.
Now on to the sea and sky!
June 7, 2023
I'm grateful to have been able to carve out some painting time after such a lengthy break. Progress is going pretty quickly with a handful of rocks (as well as my lost smartphone) new today...
June 2, 2023
The bottle is coming along. All that's left is the neck...
May 31, 2023
Finally getting a chance to get back to painting after the big move to Nova Scotia, so I thought I'd pick up where I'd left off on my "Lighting in a Bottle" painting of the Grand Manan lighthouse in a bottle on the Long Eddy beach.
I've now got the bottom of the bottle complete!
I've now got the bottom of the bottle complete!
Nov 23, 2022
I've given the lighthouse a proper base and am loving how the distorted background behind the lighthouse looks like a dark and stormy sky, giving the whole thing a moody feel.
Nov 19, 2022
It didn't take long to come up with the perfect title for this painting. Although I had initially liked "Lighthouse in a Bottle," it didn't take long to realize that "Lighting in a Bottle" was much better because of the fact that it played with words and against expectations.
Nov 18, 2022
I started painting the lighthouse in the bottle at the Home for the Holidays Show in Markham, Ontario.
VOYAGEUR SPIRITS
We're joining this show already in progress! I've been doing a lousy job keeping this page up to date so here's a current progress image of my latest boat in a bottle painting, this time a voyageur canoe with passengers against the background of Burleigh Falls.
Sept 18, 2022
I know that, like our children, we’re not supposed to pick our favourite paintings, but I’m not going to lie: this one has struck a chord within me.
Presenting my latest watercolour painting: "Voyageur Spirits." I couldn't be happier with the way it turned out
Presenting my latest watercolour painting: "Voyageur Spirits." I couldn't be happier with the way it turned out
Sept 18, 2022
Portrait of the artist's son, hard at play. He's been asking if he can paint a part of it for days, so I finally gave him a spot...
Sept 13, 2022
I'm taking my time painting the details of the background behind the #voyageurcanoe #boatinabottle, and I'm very happy with the way it's turning out...
This will be my last post until it's finished! Probably in the week of Sept 19th!
This will be my last post until it's finished! Probably in the week of Sept 19th!
Sept 9, 2022
More of the rock on which the #boatinabottle with the #voyageurcanoe is resting. Does it look sufficiently wet?
Sept 7, 2022
I shifted my attention away from the blurry background today to focus on the foreground (focus - get it?)
One of the challenges of this composition was to interpret the rock on which the bottle is resting as wet. Obviously, the source image made it look that way, but I'm trying to enhance aspects of it to make the wetness even more obvious. So far, I'm happy with the results.
One of the challenges of this composition was to interpret the rock on which the bottle is resting as wet. Obviously, the source image made it look that way, but I'm trying to enhance aspects of it to make the wetness even more obvious. So far, I'm happy with the results.
Sept 6, 2022
The background behind the bottle will be based on pictures I took of Burleigh Falls earlier this month. Here's a chunk of that background made to look blurry in order to make the bottle and the canoe look more like models.
September 5, 2022
I was at the Kawartha Arts Festival in Fenelon on the weekend, and demonstrated watercolour painting by starting to add a background to the bottle
Summer 2022
I started this painting in July, and worked at it during several of my art shows. At this point, the bottle with the voyageur canoe and passengers is pretty much done and I will begin to add the background.
SNOWY OWL
Just as I was thinking about getting back into painting, a friend of mine posted an awesome picture of a snowy owl online, and I was inspired! This will be a big painting (30" by 22"), and will depict a rural agricultural scene with lots of split-rail fences!
January 26, 2021
I thought I'd add a bit more detail around the broken fence beneath the #snowyowl so that it made more sense before I do much more of the tree.
January 22, 2021
"Paint a tree in winter," I said. "It'll be fun," I said.
Yeesh. That's a lotta branches that have to connect!
Yeesh. That's a lotta branches that have to connect!
January 21, 2021
It's looking pretty cold in my painting in progress. Good thing the new addition is dressed for it...
The day after the American inauguration, I couldn't resist jumping on the bandwagon of the popular Bernie meme!
The day after the American inauguration, I couldn't resist jumping on the bandwagon of the popular Bernie meme!
January 20, 2021
The broken fence under the snowy owl is taking shape...
January 20, 2021
Monsieur Snowy Owl has made his appearance...
January 20, 2021
This will be the first time I've picked up and used a paint brush in months (I've been busy writing instead). It'll be like riding a bike for the first time in forever right? My butt will hurt for days.
FISHING BOAT IN A BOTTLE
IN FRONT OF THE ROCHER PERCE, GASPESIE.
March 5, 2020
The finished version!
March 4, 2020
Well, I was planning on painting the fishing boat next, but the #rocherpercé called to me, so I painted it and the sea and sky around it.
One ot the things I like about painting things to look like they're out of focus is how the viewers eye fills in so mich of the detail anyhow!
One ot the things I like about painting things to look like they're out of focus is how the viewers eye fills in so mich of the detail anyhow!
March 3, 2020
I hadn't planned on posting another progress shot today, but wanted to show how the neck of the bottle was turning out.
This particular boat in a bottle painting is a departure for me in that I actually took the source picture of the bottle on site as opposed to building it in Photoshop. There are subtle indications to demonstrate this, such as the reflection of the cobbles in the bottle, as well as the #rochepercée in the distorted interior.
This particular boat in a bottle painting is a departure for me in that I actually took the source picture of the bottle on site as opposed to building it in Photoshop. There are subtle indications to demonstrate this, such as the reflection of the cobbles in the bottle, as well as the #rochepercée in the distorted interior.
March 3, 2020
The rocks in the foreground are done! It's starting to look a lot more like the cobble stone beach in front of the #rochepercée that I was laying down on this past summer!
Now, onto the fishing boat and the bottle!
Now, onto the fishing boat and the bottle!
Feb 27, 2020
And that's the last of the big rocks in the foreground!
Feb 26, 2020
More rocks!
Just a few today because they were bigger and complicated to paint!
As I paint, I'm reminded of what it was like on the beach on the day I took the picture. Everytime the waves came in, thousands of cobble stones would click quietly against each other all around me. It was amazingly peaceful, especially since I pretty much had that area of the beach to myself since it's very difficult to walk on those stones!
Just a few today because they were bigger and complicated to paint!
As I paint, I'm reminded of what it was like on the beach on the day I took the picture. Everytime the waves came in, thousands of cobble stones would click quietly against each other all around me. It was amazingly peaceful, especially since I pretty much had that area of the beach to myself since it's very difficult to walk on those stones!
Feb 25, 2020
Ok, who had the bright idea to choose a reference image with water rushing over the cobble stones because "it looked neat?" Because that was a serious challenge even though it was seriously a lot of fun.
Feb 24, 2020
I've started painting my latest #boatinbottle variation, this one of a fishing boat in a bottle with the Roche Percee in the background.
The rocks in the foreground will be out of focus and also gleaming wet. It means that I'm using a liquid frisket more than usual, but it sure is making the pebbles gleam!
The rocks in the foreground will be out of focus and also gleaming wet. It means that I'm using a liquid frisket more than usual, but it sure is making the pebbles gleam!
Feb 22, 2020
... and the pencil play on my next ship-in-a-bottle painting has begun. Here's the preliminary sketch for the Roche Percee fishing boat.
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