Cropping the scene for my next painting

[Kelley]

I found a couple of pictures I liked that a friend took in fall (leaves have many colors) and winter (snow covered trees) of the same location in Boise, Idaho.  I want to change the scene a bit by gently curving the ravine and adding the same type of trees to both banks, a coloured bridge or adding a hill to counter balance.  I'll start with making a few notans of what is appealing first then work on color.  This will be the first thought out painting I've done yet  (without a brush in my hand).  The first step is usually the hardest.

I've attached the pics of what I'm working with.

[nolan]

wow, the fall colours are absolutely amazing Kelley, it sure would make a great painting that.
The snow one will also look good if you add a deer or something as a spot of colour for a focal point.

Looking forward to seeing the notans

[Kelley]

I was considering a coloured bridge (blue or red perhaps), but I very much like the deer idea instead. Thank you!

[nolan]

To add a bridge I suspect you would have to narrow the river otherwise the bridge would end up too big, but a bridge could look good. Even one of those old stone bridges.

[Kelley]

Yes, I was considering narrowing the water path and creating a bridge somewhere before the vanishing point, but a deer or even two would be more interesting and give a better mood of quietness and tranquility.  I remember you saying something to the effect that our mood affects how we paint.  I find that to be very true.

[nolan]

it sure does. It can change our mood too, that is why art classes are often "prescribed" to folks recovering from depression and anxiety. You can only feel better after painting a nice bright painting.

[Kelley]

I'm apparently better with color than black and white .   Well, here are some notans to start.

[nolan]

here is my notan for the colour scene so you can compare

Details

it has an interesting shape, but maybe a bit on the dark side so you could add some more light for balance. See how you can bring some more light in. I want you to come up with a suggestion or two before I post mine - I don't want to influence you creative decisions by making my own suggestions now.

[Kelley]

Well, I opened the clearing a bit and lowered some of the trees to view the sky.  Then I fell asleep thinking about what else to do    The trouble I am having is that I see  in colour and the water (although I see now as dark) seemed lighter instead of solid black.  Yours is a wider, broader stroke.  I'll have to develop more abstract than details for the big picture.

Second notan here is with less of a bank on the left.  Third is with more water on right with lighter opening/clearing on the right as well.  Fourth and final is with various openings in trees causing "windows" for light to come through.

[nolan]

great job on the sleep notans Kelley 

without a doubt my favourite is "fall windows" it has excellent balance and an interesting shape.
"small left bank" seems heavy on the right - now you can see what we mean by the objects having weight
"open clearing" is also nice and will also make a good painting
"more water on right" - the more water tends to draw your eye towards that clearing and out of the picture so that one doesn't work for me.

I am sure you have learnt a lot doing these notans, and saved yourself a lot of headaches in the future because a notan only takes a minute to do and it quickly gives you a feel for what the end result will look and feel like. High five from me for doing them 

[Kelley]

I was going nuts for a while trying to figure out how to make variations.  I'll give fall windows a try on canvas next.  Thanks for you assessment and encouragement.

[nolan]

[Val]

Apologies for dropping in but I find this is a fascinating process.

[Kelley]

You are not intruding and very welcome to join in any time, my friend.  I think you and I can learn from our instructors and each other.  I've never done this before so hopefully this new process will help us both.  I imagine making a notan can help you come up with interesting backgrounds for your water colour as well.  Glad to have you Val 

[Val]