Pilot and Index Peaks commision StepXStep

Hi everyone,

I decided to do a step by step blog of a painting commission of favorite spot that one of my Collectors. It's Pilot and Index peaks in the Shoshone National Forest in Montana. I'll be posting the progress of this piece as I get it done. I'm also working on a few other commissions at the same time and will be trading off paintings to give them time to try in between steps. But I'll only be posting this one as I work on it, so it may take me a bit more time between steps than normal... but we'll get there. Most of the time I'm working on multiple paintings and rotate them to stay fresh and give my eye a break. On the one's I'm not working 0n a the moment, I will take and turn them to the wall, so as not to see them. That way, when I do look at them again, I am able to see my mistakes or solutions to problem areas more easily. Painting is a series of corrections. I know it's finished when I can't see anything else that needs fixing. It's true!

So, to take you through the process, I was contacted by a collector who's family has a favorite spot in Montana's Shoshone National Forest. A lake that overlooks Pilot and Index Peaks. It begins with knowing the space dimensions of the place he was looking to hang the painting. It's a spot over the fireplace that is long and narrow. So, we decided on a painting with the dimensions 20X60", then a frame of no more than a 4" stock that adds a total of 8" all the way around, for a final dimension of 28X68". He sent me a bunch of photos he had taken while there (I'm only showing three of them here since many of the others had family members in them). From those I did a drawing which pieced them together.

Ref photo 1

Ref Photo 2

Ref Photo 3, Pilot/Index peak closeup

Approved Pencil Sketch

this is the sketch that was approved. We added a moose to the scene. It helps balance the scene, since all of the weight is on the left side where Pilot and Index peak are. And it gives you a great focal point. Also I added some dramatic clouds which makes the landscape more dramatic.

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Layout drawn in on canvas

Here's the rough in on the stretched linen. I keep it loose and I don't worry about drawing every branch on every tree. The moose is drawn in more accurately, though it's still loose. Large shapes like puzzle pieces are all that are needed now. Don't get sucked into adding a lot of detail. That will make you want to be very tight in your painting and keep you from wanting to cover up your drawing. Keep it from being precious and you'll end up with a better painted painting.