The Making of Hallett Peak

The craft of making a picture, or dare I say art, usually involves more than putting the paint on canvas.  I'm always interested to learn how other artists approach their craft and so I thought I would share the steps I went through to create the 20"x16" painting below.  

It started with me standing awestruck before Hallett Peak while hiking in Rocky Mountain National Park.  I grabbed my sketchpad and drew this thumbnail sketch:

Later, at home I worked out the value design: 

  

The line drawing below shows where I wanted the energy and focus to be - darker, heavier lines are where the highest contrasts and focal point will be:

Next, I painted this 14"x11" to see if the colors and design worked together to communicate my concept:

I then put the first painting away for a few weeks.  With a fresh eye, I pulled the painting out again and did some critical thinking about what I would need to adjust to make a successful larger version.  The notes below show the key changes I wanted to make:

I had to have a plan for value, color, line, and composition that would come together to communicate the grandeur of the place and my response to it.  Once the elements were resolved I began work on the 20"x16" canvas.

Step 1: blocking in the main shapes

Step 2: first pass of sky and mountain.  Accurate value and color.

Comparing concept piece with the larger painting

Step 4: painting middle ground and main tree

Step 5: first pass on foreground.  Orchestrating shapes and colors in foreground
is critical for visual flow and interest.

Step 6: Refined the shapes within the mountain, scumbled warm highlights on middle ground trees,
refined the large trees between foreground and middleground (on left), adjusted the rock shapes and
added final details to the foreground plants.

Step 7: Frame!
This frame was hand made for this painting by Mike Otteman
of Otteman Arts in Loveland Colorado 

I also sign and title the back of the painting along with the date, medium and varnish used. 

Use the comment box below to let me know your thoughts about my painting or process.  I love hearing from you!

National Exhibition Opens April 5th

The 22nd annual Artists Association of Northern Colorado National Exhibition opens tomorrow night in Fort Collins, Colorado.  

I'm pleased to announce that my painting "Hallett Peak" has been juried into the show and will be on display from April 5th through April 26th, 2013.

For those of you in the area, by all means, come by and see all the wonderful paintings from artists across the USA.

Hallett Peak by Scott Ruthven
20"x16"   Oil on Canvas

Blowing Snow - Hallett Peak and Flattop Mountain from Sprague Lake

Here is my effort from Saturday.  I drove up to Rocky Mountain National Park specifically to paint at Sprague Lake.  Up at Sprague, which is probably about 10,000 ft elevation, the temp was in the 20's and the wind blew at a steady 20-30MPH.  It's often windy in RMNP in the winter so no problem and as for the cold, once I begin to paint I become so engrossed in capturing my subject that I don't notice it.  To combat the wind I sat on a log so I could keep my tripod low to the ground (I usually stand while painting).  I also hung my weighted backpack from the tripod.  That still wasn't enough so I did the entire painting while holding my tripod down with my left hand.  The wind gusts were so forceful that I had to keep the lid on my mineral spirits can to ensure it didn't spill if the wind took it.

Painting in these tough conditions challenges me to see just what I can do.  The reward is potentially twofold: 1. I just might convey some of the feeling and imagery from the amazing show nature is putting on, and 2. I become more conditioned to focus on the key stuff and eliminate the unnecessary...both in my painting of the concept and subject matter and in the materials I bring and use.  If the painting is a disaster, I note what I learned so I can apply it next time and I take a deep breath and acknowledge the blessing of spending a few hours truly immersed in nature, seeing and experiencing what many never do.

Hallett Peak

Hallett Peak by Scott Ruthven
20"x16" Oil on canvas

This majestic peak climbs to 12,713 feet in Rocky Mountain National Park.  The view I've painted is just above Dream Lake.  Hallett Peak sits right on the Continental Divide and really is breathtaking.

I'd love your feedback and thanks for the "Likes"