Backdrop painting of the Rockies

[Graffen]

I've started the work on the landscape painting on the backdrop.
To make a representation of the Colorado rockies isn't as easy as it sounds....
You want them to be tall and imposing, and have the color variations of the real thing.
On top of that I have to find a level of detail that I'm satisfied with.
I use regular artist acrylics for the painting.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[riogrande5761]

Looks good.  I'm looking a little further west on the Grande to the Grande Junction and Utahline part of the D&RGW east-west mainline.

[Doughless]

I think you've captured the sense of distance very well.  More detailed trees in the foreground, a hazy gray mountain with not much detail way back, and kind of a furry looking peak in between.

Color on photographs can be deceiving.  I think mountains tend to get grayer as they fade into the distance.  You might want to make the trees on the furry peak not look as brown as those in the foreground.  Maybe a touch grayer since the peak is in the distance?

[rrebell]

Needs to be hazed out some, especially the rear mountain, you got the general feel but colors are a bit bright for the distances being painted. Just remember, you asked and I have seen your work so I know you can do it and yes I do have a background in art for those who think I am just nit picking.

[garya]

rrebell

Needs to be hazed out some, especially the rear mountain, you got the general feel but colors are a bit bright for the distances being painted. Just remember, you asked and I have seen your work so I know you can do it and yes I do have a background in art for those who think I am just nit picking.

 

You could haze it out with a thinned light coat of white or very light gray through an airbrush.

[7j43k]

garya

 

You could haze it out with a thinned light coat of white or very light gray through an airbrush.

 

 

And some blue, I think.

 

Ed

[riogrande5761]

I agree about the hazing.  Many do it effectively to create a sense of distance on parts meant to be further away.

 

[hon30critter]

Hi Graffen:

If I may, I would suggest doing the distant mountains in soft purples and grays. The colours should get softer the further away the mountain is supposed to be. Green implies full tree coverage which isn't usually the case on tall mountains, at least not in the Rockies. The tree line on distant mountains is usually below the line of sight.

Dave

[rrebell]

I do hope everyone knows he is a profesional painter. The only reason I piped in was sometimes when you do a large project, you get cought up in things and don't notice something simple as you deal with the large scope of the project.

[riogrande5761]

rrebell

I do hope everyone knows he is a profesional painter.  

Regardless, I still agree with the haze comments.  

[rrebell]

riogrande5761

 

 

rrebell

I do hope everyone knows he is a profesional painter.  

 

 

 

Regardless, I still agree with the haze comments.  

 

No question about that.

[BigDaddy]

I've been to the grand tetons 4 different times. Once I got a crystal clear shot of the mountains with flowers in the foreground.  Everyother time it was hazy every single day.

I could live with clear and sharp as Graffen has painted. 

[mlehman]

Doing the hazing is a good point, but I suspect that's later in the process. I'm no expert here, but from what I've seen is the artitst puts down some base coats, then details in various passes using fairly strong colors for many detais, while adding whte to the mixing of other colors as the process proceeds. Eventually most things are covered with the "haze" , then the whole vista is overcoated, sometimes multiple times. This depends a lot on the distance being portrayed, so more distance, more haze.

Graff will get around to it, I'm sure. It's a great scene developing!

[rrebell]

mlehman

Doing the hazing is a good point, but I suspect that's later in the process. I'm no expert here, but from what I've seen is the artitst puts down some base coats, then details in various passes using fairly strong colors for many detais, while adding whte to the mixing of other colors as the process proceeds. Eventually most things are covered with the "haze" , then the whole vista is overcoated, sometimes multiple times. This depends a lot on the distance being portrayed, so more distance, more haze.

Graff will get around to it, I'm sure. It's a great scene developing!

 

Not so much in the canvas world and not neccisarly white.

[riogrande5761]

I can't tell for sure but it looks like Graf started with totally covering the backdrop with clouds and then started painting the scenery over it.  Interesing but one way to do it.

I've followed Rob Spanglers backdrops.  I am not aware that he is a "professional" painter but he really "kills it" with his backdrops.  But I'm also biased because I really love the Utah desert land scapes too.

[Doughless]

mlehman

Doing the hazing is a good point, but I suspect that's later in the process. I'm no expert here, but from what I've seen is the artitst puts down some base coats, then details in various passes using fairly strong colors for many detais, while adding whte to the mixing of other colors as the process proceeds. Eventually most things are covered with the "haze" , then the whole vista is overcoated, sometimes multiple times. This depends a lot on the distance being portrayed, so more distance, more haze.

Graff will get around to it, I'm sure. It's a great scene developing!

 

I'm not a professional painter, but instead of covering one color with another color later, which might result in a layering effect the eye detects, I would get a head start on the haze effect by mixing some gray paint into the colors as I painted.  Mix more gray into the colors as I worked farther into the distance.

[garya]

riogrande5761

I've followed Rob Spanglers backdrops.  I am not aware that he is a "professional" painter but he really "kills it" with his backdrops.  But I'm also biased because I really love the Utah desert land scapes too.

 

He has mentioned in the past that he has had some art training.

[garya]

Doughless

I'm not a professional painter, but instead of covering one color with another color later, which might result in a layering effect the eye detects, I would get a head start on the haze effect by mixing some gray paint into the colors as I painted.  Mix more gray into the colors as I worked farther into the distance.

 

Usually one mixes gray or sky blue color with the background colors, as Dave Frary describes, and then follow up with a haze coat.

[mlehman]

rrebell

Not so much in the canvas world and not neccisarly white.

Was talking ganeralities here, because A. I don't know what exact process Graff follows and in what order and B. there are many ways to do this depending on the medium being used (oil, acrylic, watercolor, etc), on what (because modelers tend to paint on all sorts of stuff that many artists wouldn't),  what style they prefer, and their training (if any).

And there are lots of varieties of "white."  It's also not really "haze" either, but I'm willing to play along. We're talking about the same process, so to me best to find points of agreement instead of splitting hairs.