Lower Falls of the Yellowstone
42 x 60″
The crowning jewel of my thesis project is my painting of the Lower Falls of Yellowstone National Park.
If you watched my YouTube video, you probably saw it on there. But here it is again.
As you can tell, it is 3.5 feet wide by 5 feet tall.
Now you may wonder how it is that I was able to paint on watercolor paper that large.Watercolor paper does come in large rolls that are 10 yds long. I wasn’t about to attempt that! What I did was stretch the paper like a canvas onto stretcher bars. Then I painted. Sometimes with a really big brush (#30 round) and sometimes with a small one (my favorite #6).
It took me probably a total of 30 days over 6 months to paint but I did it! And you know what, I loved every minute of it.
Here I am with the completed painting.
I'm interested in your stretching technique over bars since someone gave me a roll of WC paper and I'd like to try painting something bigger. Is it necessary to stretch such thick paper? Did you then glaze the painting rather than mount under glass?
THAT is an IMPRESSIVE painting, Leslie!!!
Donna, I stretched this way so it wasnt too heavy and because i do alot of wet in wet work. M ost paper that comes in the rolls is the same thickness as 140lb so should stretch easily. The final painting will not stay on the bars though. I will take it off so it is easier to transport then mount it to a lightweight board and varnish it just before it is framed.
Why, thank you, Kathryn. I must say that I have more plans to paint big.
Well done and so impressive at that size!
Thanks Rhonda! I am looking forward to working that big again soon.
It looks exactly like I remember it! Beautiful piece!
I'm so glad you posted a picture of you with the painting. It's an amazing painting but knowing how large it is makes it even more impressive!