More than I Can Chew -- WIP

[Jim Updegraff]

Started this last weekend on a six foot by four foot Utrecht cotton canvas. It’s big for me. No more painting until the weekend because the house is full of kids and grandkids. I’ll keep updating this thing until it’s done or I’m sick of it.


http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/25-Nov-2010/34977-001.JPG

http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/25-Nov-2010/34977-003.JPG

http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/25-Nov-2010/34977-005.JPG

[Esmeralinda]

:clap: :thumbsup:

[danju]

Hi, Jim ~ I've been threatening to go BIG for a change so I'll be eagerly watching. Thanks for getting us started. Dan

[brookstream]

I've heard that to paint a bigger painting, a person just needs bigger brushes. I don't know how true that is, but it seems reasonable. I look forward to seeing more of this. Here's hoping you pull it off (and tell us how you did it):thumbsup:

[it'sALLart]

The way you paint, it should be an amazing piece when finished!

Just don't give up on it, big canvases can haunt you forever. I did a 5 x 4 foot realism piece, took me 6 months. Thought I'd never be done, but it's one of those I worked on when I felt like it and didn't touch it otherwise.

Any reference shot?

[Jim Updegraff]

The children and grandchildren left Friday noon, so after some pick up and putting the good dishes and flat wear away I got in a couple hours of daylight and a few more today. Now there is a coat of paint on the whole thing. I needs to dry for a few days before I can get back to it. In a way it’s a bit like painting a wall. Here is where she stands as of sunset this afternoon.


http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/27-Nov-2010/34977-003.JPG

[brookstream]

Very nice...looks great already.:thumbsup:

[John A. Roof]

nice tcj

[viking57]

So far so good Jim. This weekend really slowed me down also...so many other things going on. Looking forward to seeing the finish.
Ron

[Al Skaar]

I'm having a good time watching your paint dry Jim. You've already covered a lot of acreage. That is a BIG painting. Looking great so far!

- Al

[Jim Updegraff]

The first snow of the season blew in on Friday afternoon -- only six inches of fluff but a fair warning of the 120 days of frozen Hell that lies between me and Spring (in Northeast Iowa Spring usually happens on the first Thursday of May from 10:00 AM until 3:00 PM). Under the circumstances I’d just as soon concentrate on this recollection of Indian Summer.

No more painting this week or this coming weekend. We have to go down to the Capitol to do Christmas shopping and to see the granddaughter’s 15 seconds of fame as one of God alone knows how many baby rats in the Nutcracker Ballet.

So, here is where it stood at the close of business on Sunday -- because the 800 pixel limit is a bit constraining there is also a couple of details.


http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/06-Dec-2010/34977-001.JPG

http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/06-Dec-2010/34977-003.JPG

http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/06-Dec-2010/34977-004.JPG

[viking57]

This is coming along nicely Jim. There is a lot of detail in these works of yours. Keep up the good work.
Ron

[Esmeralinda]

Super progress ! Thanks for sharing :clap:

[Barbara01]

This looks like an impressive piece, love the detail. I decided to start my largest painting to date (in recent times) this week too, not sure how much time I'll have to work on it over Christmas though. Ah don't you love the holidays, hope you enjoy you granddaughters baby rat performance! lol

[Jim Updegraff]

So, here is where things stood as of darkness on Sunday, Dec. 19. Plus a detail and a view of the work area that clearly shows the box of rat bait under the easel.


http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/19-Dec-2010/34977-005.JPG

http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/19-Dec-2010/34977-006.JPG

http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/19-Dec-2010/34977-007.JPG

[brookstream]

It's great! I would like to see a person sitting on the hill overlooking the town in my version but it's really nice work :D

[Jim Updegraff]

Not much has gottten done around here the last couple weeks. Here are two of the reasons.

http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/05-Jan-2011/34977-001.JPG

[Old Tex]

I've got some of those, too, Jim. Eight, in fact. They do sometimes affect art production.

I've always been curious how you approach one of your paintings. It's really interesting to see how you start and how you progress. Looking good.

[Esmeralinda]

:heart: :heart:

[viking57]

Cool pics of the progress and studio Jim....cute little ones too bundled up and ready to go. That's a hefty size you're working with. When it's done you're gonna have a pretty impressive piece of work....nice to see an Army entrenching tool...ours had the straight handle.
Ron

[VladK]

Very nice Jim

[Jim Updegraff]

Ron, the entrenching tool is a relic. When I left the service I somehow shipped all my field gear home with my hold baggage. For its own reasons all the Army wanted back was the steel helmet and the gas mask.

Vlad, it’s not a matter of aiming high. It’s just a somewhat bigger target than usual.

Esmeralinda, I assume the hearts are for the grandchildren. As Ralph Parker can tell you, at this age they have to be constantly amused or guarded -- can’t leave the little Munchkins alone for a moment.

The next steps on the painting are going to be matters of fixing stuff: lower the tree line at the far side of the flood plain, soften the horizon and the far background, adjust the linear perspective in the middle ground, then start working on the foreground, maybe stick in a figure or a couple cows for scale.

[Jim Updegraff]

Done, by the Great Horn Spoon, done. It might not be done but I’m tired of messing with it. It has been almost two months. Enough is enough.

Now a title. How about “Eldorado -- Indian Summer with Cow Path?”

The whole thing, oil on canvas, 72” x 48”, with a detail.



http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/17-Jan-2011/34977-002.JPG

http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/17-Jan-2011/34977-005.JPG

[it'sALLart]

Amazing!

[LynnM]

Wow!!! A labour of love for sure.

[viking57]

Hi Jim,
I'd say "finally" but for fear of reprisal I won't. Stunning work not only for the quality of the artwork but also for it's sheer size too! This must be very impressive to see in the flesh. I love the detail of the scene and adding in the cow trail is a nice earthy addition. The foreground trees also add to the perspective of the scene...Super!

BTW...can't believe they let you take home all of your gear....they even took our weopons card! And they could keep the shovel...ours were the old long wooden handled ones that we kept rolled up in our sleeping bag in the bustle rack of the tank.
Ron

[sundiver]

That's a stunning piece of work; interesting style and fabulous depth. I love the foreground foliage.
Cute grandkids, too! Which makes three great products in total!

[Jim Updegraff]

BTW...can't believe they let you take home all of your gear....they even took our weopons card!

There are advantages to being a staff officer. Of course the tankers put every thing in the turret bussel -- except the booze, that went in the ammo rack.

[Jim Updegraff]

It would be more than a little churlish of me not to thank the people who have taken the time to look at this exercise in self indulgence, the time to comment and especially to encourage. My thanks to all. You efforts are greatly appreciated.

Now, I have another six foot by four foot canvas. Something needs to be done with it. The great Cézanne painted his mountain more time than I know, but he was great. With this effort I think I’ve about worn out this view over the Turkey River.

[Neil1971]

Amazing painting Jim. :)