At this stage of the Mendenhall Glacier painting I’ve run out of ideas and I’ve been so absorbed in the painting that I can’t look at it objectively any longer. When I reach this stage I let the painting rest for awhile. I’ll look at it upside down, I’ll evaluate it in the reverse by looking at it in a mirror, and I’ll just let it sit on the easel and contemplate. Is it finished? I don’t know yet. Maybe. Maybe not. I’ll know in a few days. Meanwhile, I’ll start a new one, and that will distract me. I’ve enjoyed spending time at this pretty little spot along the shore of the Mendenhall Lake, and I will miss my daily journeys. But, alas, it’s time to visit a new place and I think it will be just as nice.
After letting the painting rest a few days I declare, “it is finished!” I’ve signed it and gave it the title “Juneau’s Glacier”, dimensions 30″x40″ acrylic on canvas. It might be hard to see in this tiny photo, but I painted the figure of a Semipalmated Plover on the ground in the lower right corner of the canvas. These birds build their nests on the ground along the shores of Mendenhall Lake.
More tomorrow,
Gail Niebrugge, Alaska glacier artist
I can remember when I was a kid and we would go through the process of having a painting sit on your easel for days while we all contemplated whether or not it was finished. Sometimes it was an easy determination, other times it took a while. I haven’t looked at this image for very long, but I think this one is a quick call…it’s simply beautiful and I agree that it’s finished!! Nice work, Mom!!
Thank you sweetheart. You grew up seeing a lot of really questionable early work, hopefully I’ve improved a bit 🙂
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Love, Mom
Watching and reading about the development of this wonderful painting has been fascinating! Thank you for sharing.
Dorothea;
Thank you. Sometimes its hard to remember to keep shooting photos when painting, but I find it helps me as well.
Gail