16" tall X 20" wide, acrylic on canvas.

This was the commission piece I mentioned in my journal. I'm ... okay with it, but not thrilled.

The photos I had were kind of difficult to work from - low-res, and also kind of (dare I say it?) nondescript: here's the source photo. My style, such as it is, lends itself better to character buildings and well-known views.

The direction I got from the customers is they love a particular artist (Fred Peters) and their favorite things about this view are the layers of the mountains in the distance, the peacefulness of the water, the cloud formations, and the contrast as you look out at the trees, shore, water, and mountains. So that's what I tried to emphasize. I also tried to keep Fred Peters' style in mind (didn't work, actually; sadly, I'm not Fred Peters).

I struggled with this one. Not just 'cause I had strep throat while trying to paint it, but I had a hard time finding the essence. Lots of rework as I sweated and prayed, "God, don't let this be another Naramata Field!" (That was a frustrating painting that I had to force myself to finish).

They wanted some work-in-progress shots, so I sent one. They came back with some comments, which were totally valid but scared the crap out of me ("Ahhh! I'm not doing it right!"). My initial take had a wiggly dock, wavier water, big, expressive clouds, and the mountains were much closer. They wanted a better sense of their own view, with the mountains more in the distance, bigger expanse of lake, and smaller, scuddier clouds. So this is how it ended up.

I *hate* it when I overwork a painting. It just gets shiny and pebbly. Mental note: buy matte medium, not gloss. I sandpapered down a few versions and was close to starting fresh on a new canvas. Maybe I should have, but I'm stubborn: I can never leave a painting unfinished. Compared to the cabin one, which was done in about 1/10th the time, this one barely looks "good enough" to me. The thing I like best is the translucent water lapping on the shore. Anyway, we'll see what the customers come back with. I sent them this jpg. I bet they’re going to ask me to put in some boats, maybe a houseboat, which is what I suggested. Time to get out the sandpaper.

I've checked "Advanced Critique Encouraged" because I'd like to know what I could have done differently. If adding a boat would help, where should it go?

UPDATE: Well, they came back with ... praise. They love it. Direct quote: "amazing, fantastic, wouldn't change a thing!!" So I guess it's done, and I guess beauty really is in the eye of the beholder. It's of a place they love, I managed to get enough of that into the painting, so therefore they love it. Huh. Well, just wait 'til they get the cabin one, too!

I am so OK. Back to my own stuff now!