Hi All,
A plea for a bit of help : I'm currently working on an oil painting based on the Lynton & Barnstaple narrow gauge line.
I have a loco plus two coaches appearing from the bottom left and moving towards top right. In the foreground is another track plus a siding with turnouts to service all. Hence, there is 'dual-perspective' involved with getting the sleepers to look 'right'. At the extreme top right, the track sweeps gently into the station approach (from memory).
I wonder if anyone would have some images that might help. Also, confirmation of loco colour (currently green /black) plus, coaches (currently maroon /cream) would also help. There is quite a bit of artistic licence in the painting so I'm not looking to make it 100% accurate !
Thanks for any assistance,
Dave
ps I note that there is an L&B SIG - should I join this perhaps ?
Update :
The work is progressing quite well. Far run into the station approach has been revised as has the sleeper pattern in the near foreground. Points complex (middle distance), still giving some perspective trouble....
Customer requests include a move away from pure 'dual-perspective' into something more pleasing to the eye. (He who pays the piper calls the tune !). Loco and coach liveries are acceptable "as is" - who am I to argue (?).
Advice from a more senior artist in our little group re: commissions "unless it's something you really want to do - walk away...." I think he has a point. Next one could be a Spitfire. Thankfully, there's not enough sky in this one to include it !
Very much a work-in-progress
(https://i.imgur.com/QVcPyZ2l.jpg)
All comments/suggestions welcome,,,
Cheers,
Dave
Thanks Mike,
Image quality is a bit dim and 'grainy'. I'll re-take in better light and, when the painting is more complete...
Regards,
Dave
Thanks also WALLSHIRTS. (Quite an interesting name that - does it have a derivation ?)
Dave
Quote from: Dave Cooper on November 09, 2022, 10:32
Thanks also WALLSHIRTS. (Quite an interesting name that - does it have a derivation ?)
Dave
It's a play on Walschaerts valve gear.
Weeds have now started growing in the two sidings. Some changes to perspective in the 'cross-over' sidings plus, a touch or two alterations to the coach liveries (fine detail really).
The sun has moved around a little to give a more realistic shadow effect to the trackwork....I'm just debating whether (or not) to throw the signal and let the driver open the regulator....
Thoughts anyone ?
Dave
ps my favourite valvegear WALLSHIRTS !
Visiting Brussels a few years ago, I was delighted to find they have a Rue Égide Walschaerts there (Égide Walschaertsstraat in Dutch).
(Would it spoil things too much to point out that his name is pronounced something like Valskharts? The s and ch are pronounced separately and the ch should be aspirated as in Scottish 'loch' if your tonsils will manage that.)
Ian
Hello Ian
I'm actually learning Welsh at present (being a Swansea boy I feel I owe it something). The 'mutations' in Welsh are quite difficult to learn /understand....
I fear that if I were to venture into the mysteries of Belgian, Dutch and Gaelic syntax and pronunciations, the painting would never get finished ! I think I'd better leave the lovely valvegear to the more competent linguistic experts...
Thanks for the comment anyway.
Weeds are taking hold in the sidings and the rails are going rusty...
(https://i.imgur.com/Vy2A3Pfm.jpg)
Not too far to go now, just some dumped ballast and waste material.
Quote from: Dave Cooper on November 14, 2022, 23:32
Hello Ian
I'm actually learning Welsh at present (being a Swansea boy I feel I owe it something). The 'mutations' in Welsh are quite difficult to learn /understand....
I fear that if I were to venture into the mysteries of Belgian, Dutch and Gaelic syntax and pronunciations, the painting would never get finished ! I think I'd better leave the lovely valvegear to the more competent linguistic experts...
Thanks for the comment anyway.
how are you learning Dave?
i am using duolingo...just coming up to 600 days
rob
Hello Rob,
Mostly Youtube - Jason Shepherd and others....one of my sisters is fluent, so she helps when I get stuck.
I've just mastered the name of the Welsh rally team from Neath. It means "Knights of the Night" in English (back in the days when we used to do night rallying). The 'in the night' bit is easy, 'Knights' not so, especially the pronunciation !
Have a go...
Dave
The change of perspective from 'Double' to 'Single', has had a slightly unusual effect on the sleepers - this can happen sometimes with a somewhat fixed geometry as is the case with railway tracks.
I'll discuss this with the customer. It could well be that we'll try more of a '1.5' perspective in the sidings first. I know, from experience, that something like a mound of ballast, discarded wheel sets etc. can draw the eye differently....(I think he also sees 'greens' differently to me so the grass may need a touch or two !).
Diolch ! Rob
Coal and Ash dumps in the yard are proving troublesome. I need a re-think here, perhaps a bit of re-positioning will help....photos to follow when a solution is found !
Quick update :
A variety of new weeds now span the yard. Coal is scattered everywhere (must do some tidying there). I'm toying with the idea of some rudimentary coal staithes to serve both sidings...
Relatives are now in the modelling /painting room for Christmas so, a new photo will have to wait awhile.
Compliments of the season to one and all,
Dave
Following some 'expert' critique from other (non-railway) artists last Monday, we have decided to revise the sleeper angles yet again !
So far, I've gone from single perspective, to dual perspective, onto 1.5 perspective and now something else....I think this time, after I've added the coal staithes, we'll probably go with just what looks right. The customer is thoroughly confused and thinks that they all look right ! He who pays the piper etc....
More anon following the final (I hope) stages, when more photos will be posted.
Regards,
Dave
Coal staithes are now in. Final stage of 'sleeper-tweaking' has begun....If this doesn't work, then, I shall just cover the whole lot with ballast and weeds - enough is enough !
On the advice of a landscape artist, I've 'knocked back' the trees by the signal with some blow-off steam plus a bit of wind drift. Some wild flowers have been added on a foreground bank (following inspiration from a large public garden visit last weekend).
Just waiting for some foreground paint to dry, then finishing touches with photos to follow....
Dave
The painting is nearly complete. Plenty of extra weeds in the two sidings especially around the new coal staithes.
I think most of the trackwork perspective is now sorted, however, I seem to be suffering from a bit of 'camera shake' at the moment. As soon as this settles down, I'll post a couple of shots.... Oh, and, apparently, it is to be exhibited locally around November time (plenty of time for the oil paint to dry then !).
Cheers for now,
Dave
Where we are now - may still need some final tweaks etc. (Needs cropping /re-sizing - all areas that I'm deficient in !)
(https://i.imgur.com/rzAjHxtl.jpg?1)
Thanks for all the comments so far,
Dave
Thanks WALLSHIRTS - this is my first 'proper' railway oil painting and I've learned a lot.....
As for photography of paintings, well, I think I'll leave that to those more expert !
Happy Modelling,
Dave