The first step is to photograph the composition, ideally as close to how I will envisage the final painting, if this is possible. I may use my iPhone or one of my film or digital cameras. The photos are edited to adjust the composition as well as for colour and tone. Once I start the painting I will actually start with a digital version that I ‘paint’ in Procreate on my iPad, using my Apple Pencil. This is an amazing tool and allows much experimentation before, and also during the process of putting paint down on my board or canvas. My digital paintings are usually over the top of one of my photographs that I have chosen as the basis for the painting, this allows me to remove or change details that were in the photograph or change the light in the photograph altogether.

Often when I am painting I will photograph the work in progress, import the painting into Procreate and then perform the next layer using digital paint, before committing to the real thing. This allow for greater experimentation, and confidence when working on the painting.

The following paintings are also paintings that I had completed previously - some quite recently, others many years ago. The lessons I learnt the first time allow further refinement. Knowing I had previously resolved the composition makes the second version that bit easier.

The actual process is a lot less linear than the above description suggests, and the timeframe for the entire process can actually be many years.

Sealanes - South Fremantle

Pakenham Street - Fremantle

This painting is actually outside the front door of where I work at Notre Dame. This was one of those rare paintings where the photograph I took was almost perfect in terms of composition, colour and tone. I really just tried to duplicate that feeling I captured on film onto the canvas. Interestingly however, this was one of the most challenging paintings to create, even the second time around. The tones are subtle and intricate, creating a representation of these was not easy.

Martha Street and Solomon Street - Fremantle

I had to search for this composition, I had a painting in mind based on a cross road, looking down a hill with the ocean in the background. I explored every cross road in Fremantle I could find along the ridge to find something suitable. Every possibility I found I photographed morning and night and settled on Martha and Solomon! I love this spot - it has the perfect outlook and the houses on the corners were iconic Fremantle houses. I would have loved to have lived right here. From the start I wanted the painting to have that yellow winter light and this painting fell into place and flowed easily.

Peggy’s Corner - Leake and Market Street Fremantle

This painting was a very different composition from my streetscapes. I love incorporating the beautiful Fremantle skies into my paintings, however this one still displays that light that floods Fremantle on those Summer mornings. I have painted this composition a few times, as this cafe is just 100m from my work place and I was able to observe the light over many weeks and took countless photographs trying to get the composition I wanted.

While I use photography as part of my painting process, I also enjoy photography as its own form of expression. Not every photograph becomes a painting :) If you would like to follow my photography, you subscribe to burningthedayz:

burningthedayz

I am a photographer based in Albany, Western Australia sharing field notes about the natural and built environments I am exploring with photography.

By David Green

While in transition, I am still painting local Fremantle scenes as well as those in Albany, however here are my first Albany paintings.

My paintings will be available from Blush gallery in York street Albany - please drop in if you are visiting to see some great works by local and Perth artists.

Little Grove 20*20cm

Looking towards Torndirrup National Park 20*20cm

Looking across Princess Royal Harbour 30*30cm