My journey with Gord
I had been fearing the large canvas intended for a new Gord Downie portrait for about a month. I had sketched it out some time ago and left it leaning against some other canvases in the corner. At 60" x 48", it would take my complete attention for a number of days.
After completing my accidental portrait of Roger Daltrey of The Who, I felt like it was time. I set up the large canvas on my traveling easel - it is much easer to adjust up and down - then started with the face and hat. While I do my best to stay out of my head during these painting projects, I certainly crafted a strategy to approach the work. Where normal I work from left to right, because of the awkward large size the canvas, I would work top to bottom.
Most of Saturday was spent going from the face, scarf, shirt, arms and pants. I spent the last few hours bringing in the background.
I went back to the blue for this one because no other colour was calling to me. I added in some teal and white. The lighter background seems to bring out the intense joy in his face. I really wanted it to seem like is was singing a song in heaven.
You may wonder why I've returned to Gord Downie a number of times. In three of the four cases, they were special requests and/or commissions. People with deep and abiding love for Gord felt that a painting by me would help in some way. The emotion that I have put in these paintings is not my own; it is that of others.
Generally speaking, I'm not a rock guy. My natural musical tastes lie in different genres. However, through my four journeys with Gord I have developed an appreciation for his music and a profound respect for the man. I've heard personal accounts from clients who knew him and in each is a common thread: he loved music and he loved people.
I'm going to title this one "Song in heaven", because that's where my heart kept going to as it was coming together. I have some small things to do to finish this painting, small adjustments and final details, then it will be ready for the client.
After completing my accidental portrait of Roger Daltrey of The Who, I felt like it was time. I set up the large canvas on my traveling easel - it is much easer to adjust up and down - then started with the face and hat. While I do my best to stay out of my head during these painting projects, I certainly crafted a strategy to approach the work. Where normal I work from left to right, because of the awkward large size the canvas, I would work top to bottom.
Most of Saturday was spent going from the face, scarf, shirt, arms and pants. I spent the last few hours bringing in the background.
I went back to the blue for this one because no other colour was calling to me. I added in some teal and white. The lighter background seems to bring out the intense joy in his face. I really wanted it to seem like is was singing a song in heaven.
You may wonder why I've returned to Gord Downie a number of times. In three of the four cases, they were special requests and/or commissions. People with deep and abiding love for Gord felt that a painting by me would help in some way. The emotion that I have put in these paintings is not my own; it is that of others.
Generally speaking, I'm not a rock guy. My natural musical tastes lie in different genres. However, through my four journeys with Gord I have developed an appreciation for his music and a profound respect for the man. I've heard personal accounts from clients who knew him and in each is a common thread: he loved music and he loved people.
I'm going to title this one "Song in heaven", because that's where my heart kept going to as it was coming together. I have some small things to do to finish this painting, small adjustments and final details, then it will be ready for the client.
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