Image of the Week: Lynn's Barn
© D. Yael Bernhard
Once in a while I'm commissioned to do a house portrait. This one was a gift for the client's sister, Lynn. Several years earlier I had done a portrait of Lynn's house, located in the Hudson Valley. But apparently this barn – really a finished cottage – is where gatherings of friends and family take place, and it holds a lot of meaningful memories for both women. I thought that was really nice. Love between sisters always warms my heart – something I've wished for all my life.
To match the original house portrait, I worked in acrylics on 140lb cold press watercolor paper, and sized the painting so to fit a specific frame. The client picked the time of year – she wanted the hydrangeas in bloom, and the party decorations on the wall and showing through the window. These details compelled me to work more realistically than I normally do – not my preferred style, but I took the assignment as an opportunity to strengthen my skills. Precision requires a lot of patience, so I settled in for however much time was needed. I treat the needs of a painting like those of my children – I don't think about how long it will take, I just do it.
The hardest part was the outline of the house. The planes and proportions had to be right, else it wouldn't be recognizable as Lynn's barn. Architectural details often determine the success of illustrations. If you want to make a scene look like India or Japan or Brazil, just get the architecture right and you're more than halfway there. To that end, I actually traced the structural lines of this barn, and then drew the rest by hand. Getting all the details right, such as the number of window panes in the doors and the angles of the Adirondack chair – required careful observation. I seem to recall having a long conversation with a friend from California while I worked my way through this. Purely visual work leaves my mind free to talk or to listen to music or podcasts. Whatever sound accompanies the work usually becomes an indelible association in my mind. I've even thought of posting a link to the music that goes with each image in this blog, so you can listen to what I was hearing as I created the piece (do you like that idea?). Often it's classical music – something evocative, yet calming enough to help me sit still.
The last part of this painting was the trees and the sky. Here was my opportunity to create some mood. The curvaceous, organic forms of that magnificent tree contrast the straight-edged barn beautifully. The sky and foliage allowed me to create a sense of light, by using gradients to suggest areas of shade and illumination. It's really important to use a light touch here, and not overwork the image.
Spring is coming here in the Northeast, and along with it, outdoor painting. If you would like to commission a house portrait this year, please inquire for more information. I've done some mini house portraits for a local realtor, too. They make nice gifts for homebuyers.
Happy April and a good week to all!