Maligne Lake

Maligne Lake Original refernce

The Client’s original reference photo.  Maligne Lake on a Cloudy Day.  Maligne Lake is located in Alberta, Canada.  It is fed by the glaciers and has the most beautiful turquoise water that I could imagine. Unfortunately you couldn’t see that on this cloudy day.

Composition Changes

I brought the mountains forward.  Cameras tend to make huge mountains that seem so close, recede into the background.  I also used a few other references to expand the mountain range and break up the clouds.

Composition I can work with

I have put a turpentine/oil paint wash on the painting to evaluate whether there should be any changes to my composition. I’ve made some and I think I can work with this composition and coloring.  I tried 5 different skies before deciding on this one in it’s beginning stages.

Mountain Work

I’m beginning the mountain details from left to right.

Maligne Lake Halfway

Starting the tree lines and some shadows. I’ve made estimates on where the sun might shine through. I’m thinking about adding a water fall off one of the mountains, but still have not decided completely that’s the right thing to do.

Maligne Lake – Almost there

I’m putting details in the shadows and rocks, and another tree.  Then highlights, maybe some more colors in the skies, and making sure it’s all cohesive with the sun overhead in the back, with patches of shade from the clouds.

Maligne Lake

Maligne Lake, Alberta, Canada.  Original Oil Painting finished !