The Pelicans
STEP ONE
This painting is quite simple in concept and composition. However, consequently there is nowhere to hide! Simplicity can often add impact.
I had good reference photos of pelicans serenely floating along a river near Noosa, with lovely reflections in the afternoon light. The first step in this painting was to decide on the composition and positioning of the pelicans within the canvas, considering the reflections as part of the positive/negative shapes to balance. This involved combining several reference photos.
Using Genesis heat-set paints, I blocked out the full background with
blue-grey base colour. I roughly painted in the birds to judge whether I was happy with the balance and position.
STEP TWO
I placed the pelican on the left further back into the water and made him a little smaller to show distance. I wanted to fill in most of the water and its soft blended lines first, deciding to work on the pelicans later. The spaces between the ripples are closer together the further in the distance they are. The water has softer paler tones at the back, with more definition and darker tones at the front.