Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays

May your Holidays be filled with peace and joy and your new year be filled with warm turquoise water and white sandy beaches.

All the Best,
Alan

Your Chance to Own a Piece of The Caribbean

In an effort to keep all of my followers and tropical-loving friends informed, I will be offering a 30% Off Cyber Week Sale on Large Original Tropical Seascape Paintings.

Here's just a small sample of what you will find:

Magen's Bay Rocks by Alan Zawacki - 20"x40"

Lido Days by Alan Zawacki - 24"x72"

Cruz Bay Sunset by Alan Zawacki - 40"x40"

 

This is a rare sale of many of my large one-of-a-kind tropical seascape paintings. You will find significantly reduced prices on these original statement paintings for one week only, Nov. 27 – Dec.4, on my Houzz website. Sale items will be tagged and discounted beginning Friday, Nov. 27^th.

Houzz, the largest and most influential directory of remodeling and design professionals, brings homeowners, artists, and design professionals together in a uniquely visual community. Visit my seascape page for Alan Zawacki Fine Art on Houzz at: http://alanzawackifineart.houzz.com/PaintingPortfolioOne

Also, please help me spread the word to others who may also value the warmth and beauty of these tropical places.

Have a great Holiday,

Alan

My Thought Process Behind the Creation of “Reflection”

I am sometimes asked to illustrate the stages that I go through in creating a painting and lay out my thinking process as it develops. I will try to briefly explain my creative thought process for my studio painting, Reflection.

I first stare at a blank canvas in terror --- EEEK!!!!
Just kidding! I usually come to the canvas with a composition in mind and maybe a few reference photos. Then I lightly and quickly sketch the horizon line and any major features in the painting. I don't like to delay since the energy is flowing --- so I quickly get into painting. I usually begin with the sky. For me the sky sets the mood of the painting; especially in a sunset. I lay in some basic shapes and colors and adjust them to my liking.

After a few rounds of creating a basic sky, I move to the ground or in this case, water. My intention was to capture the reflection of the sun and sky on the calm harbor water so I laid down some basic colors, which will be adjusted later.

I actually enjoy experimenting right on the canvas while I provide indications of the cloud reflections. If I don’t quite like it, I change it -- one of the benefits of using quick-drying acrylics. I then add a few layers of tinted glazes on the water to give it the shiny water-like appearance.

I move on to details of the shimmering reflections of the sun and the appropriate cloud reflection positions. I want to provide a painting that looks real but I don’t want to make a copy of a photo. I try to combine realism with impressionism.

Lastly, my eyes told me that I needed a lighter blue sky reflection on the water, so I adjust the colors and add more glazes. And, I now have a finished painting.

Reflection by Alan Zawacki - 24"x36" acrylic on gallery wrap canvas

I hope that this little show and tell provides some insight into my painting process and the birth of a painting. Reflection can be purchased from my website: Alan Zawacki Fine Art

Have a great remainder of the week,

Alan