Crossing the Bathurst Street Bridge

24 x 24 oil on canvas

I'm finding working out color temperature in  night scenes is quite difficult. In a sunny scene, one can default to warm light and cool shadow and have the picture work. Even if the photo reference tells me an object is warm, I need to work with the picture and use my own judgment. I had to use the black and white photo reference most of the time after I had of my color mixes. I decided to get out the knife to add interest.
 It was a much more difficult picture to do than I originally thought.
Thanks to Ben Roffelsen for the photo reference.

Crossing the Bathurst Street Bridge

8x8 oil on canvas

Doing small studies is a big help in deciding what images will work out on a larger scale, but it is no guarantee. Sometimes the smaller images are more spontaneous and looser with more focus on the abstract qualities.Of course, as I always say, there is no way to find out how an image will look larger unless you paint it larger.

I really like the abstract quality of this image. It has  strong verticals and a nice balance of darks and lights. So, guess I'll get the large canvas ready.

Sometimes I want to stop learning and just start painting. Maybe that never happens.

This scene is from the Bathurst Bridge at Front Street.