Steam and the Sunset by Ian Smith

Welcome to Stage two of "Steam Sunset," my atmospheric art piece depicting a train and locomotive silhouetted by the evening sun. It's been quite a few weeks since the first stage so I'll give a little run down.

This was Stage One where I lay the foundations. I gave the canvas a coat of an almost fluorescent yellow acrylic, then I sketched the locomotive, train and river before colouring it all in with a bold black. As you can see, the black looks so striking against the vibrancy of the sky. With the basics covered I can now add layers of detail.

Locomotive and train

Time to get back to the locomotive and train. Even though they'll be blacked out the locomotive, tender and wheels all need a bit more detail, like highlighting the windows. It is important to ensure everything is in scale and looks proportionate overall.

Sky and river

Here I have given more attention to the sky. The golden, peachy hues soften and add texture. The river received a coat of white to achieve a glassy, reflective look.

On reflection

This canvas is improving bit by bit and I am ensuring to take my time and not rush things so I can enjoy the process. Reflecting back I feel I have lost my enjoyment for art so this is important for me to get back. I hope to bring you Stage Three soon.

I hope you have enjoyed seeing my latest developments!

See you soon,

Ian Smith