WIP: Siena 2
When I first started in on Siena #1 that was completed in early March, I already knew that it would be the first in a series of three. Along with the first at 18" x 24", I also saw a big piece using one of my 48" x 60" canvases and a smaller realism version with oil on board. I didn't think I would start in on the big piece as quickly as I did, but when inspiration hits me, I have to go with it.
I spent all day on my first session using mainly poured acrylics and various scrapers. Originally I had an idea to create a much more abstract piece, even rolling over into abstract-expressionism, staying with the original concept only through shapes and contrast.
After the second session, I wasn't feeling it. Because of it's size, the dark colors and looming building walls were kind of an assault visually. A different palette would have made all the difference, but then it would not be the subject that I was recreating. I wanted to convey Tuscan colors, contrasts of light, dark, big, and small.
I'm quite happy with the first painting, so in my third session, I took the same approach on this second painting as I did on the first and began going over everything with heavier body acrylics and brushes just dipped in water.
I'm taking more or less the same approach visually as I did on the first but taking advantage of the extra real estate to add more detail such as windows, doorways, etc. It won't be realism by any stretch but it will incoporate more detail that would have just looked busy on the smaller piece.
This photo shows progress after the third session and because of it size, will likely require another three lengthy sessions to complete. By the way, if you're interested in Siena #1, it's available for sale on Zatista.