My Art in the Making

Swans

MY DESIGN AND COMPOSITION TACTICS

I take photographs by going to nature for subjects that may inspire me in everyday life or that I imagine them before. Sometimes I make long observations. I have been being emotionally prepared for that by feeling atmosphere. What I feel about the theme is effective what elements should be add and leave them out. Accordingly, I edit the composition and draw it with pencil. I create the elements that I want in the composition (balance, rhythm, movement, light-shadow, light-dark, harmony, texture, space-fullness, focal point) in drawing and painting stages. When I work from the reference photograph, I make changes when I see a negative effect that does not match my feelings.

STAGE 1 PENCIL DRAWING

By examining a few of the reference photos, I decided how to arrange the composition. I made pencil drawings. In the background, I added a swan that is swimming because I thought it would complete the composition.

STAGE 2 MASKING LIQUID

I protected the white areas in the background and water surface with masking liquid. I regionally soaked the background and I painted mixtures of colors. I used salt to create a leafy appearance.

STAGE 3 MIDDLE GROUND

Wetting the middle and lower parts and painted them in the middle tones. I took advantage of the salt effect in the complex textures on the soil. I painted the falling shadow of swan.

STAGE 4 REMOVING THE MASKING

I removed the masking liquids. I painted the shaded parts of the swan. I made the surface of the water more darkness. I have clarified some details in the green grassy areas and their reflections.

STAGE 5 THE SWAN

I worked the details of the swan. I painted the leaves with ochre, orange, opera rose, sienna, magenta, Naples and yellow leaves. At the same time, I concretized light and shaded areas on the soil.

STAGE 6 LEAVES AND BRANCHES

I painted the leaves on the dangling branches and painted the leaves reflected in the water and swans in the background. I did small detail studies on the leaves in the soil.

STAGE 7 THE LAST TOUCHES

Swans, watercolor on paper, 30 x 22" In the foreground I highlighted the textures on the soil. I worked on little twigs and cracks. I reviewed the other details in the whole picture and worked out necessary darkness. I completed the picture.

Photo Reference In this photo, you see the woodland that I often visit, which inspired my series of reflections paintings. When I saw swans in there, they were swimming in a serenity of warm autumn serenity. Light, autumn leaves, reflections in the water and white swans—this peaceful atmosphere was like a dream. I watched them for a long time and took pictures of them.

Stony Reflection, watercolor, 22 x 25" Stones, trees and light flickering in the water creates reflections. This peaceful atmosphere reminds me of pure, sincere feelings. I’m seeing the real face of everything reflected in the transparent water. The panoramic view reflected in the water makes it possible to see inside of water, the sky, the trees that aren’t in my real viewpoint. It feels like watching earth, as if you are looking at a multidimensional screen or watching yourself in your dream.