Three Pilgrims

2019

Acrylic paint on 41 x 33 cm cardboard canvas.

The reference photo for this painting is a screencapture from a 2005 DVD which was filmed, even for its time, with very mediocre videocam. For that reason alone I've interpreted that scene with some artistic licence (again), mostly improving the contrast on the mountains toward the viewer while decreasing it in the distance. The sky has been completely blown out in the video, therefore I've replaced it with pastell colours of the Northern "nightless night". Some improvement is still needed all over with the tones.

As I explain in the Info and elsewhere on these pages, Northern Norway has always been my mental home, in particular when it comes to climbing, backpacking and nature photography. On many trips there my three sons have also been with me and those trips live in our collective memories, often with the idea that we should return there together now that they all are adults. I decided to paint a unique painting of their own choosing for each one and this one is kind of a practice run for myself.

The location is Kvalvikdalen on Lyngen peninsula, Tromsø area. Everyone of us (including the youngest Sakari aged 9) has carried his heavy rucksack some 400 vertical meters to a hut in the valley. Despite that the boys have been enthusiastic to enjoy the views higher up the fjell and we are taking on the scenery. It's the beginning of July, the time is just before midnight, and the sun doesn't have the slightest intention of setting. Life is as good as it gets. Four Hobbits on an adventure...

The greatest challenge about this painting has been to depict the faces on such small canvas. The figures are quite small in the composition anyway. I hope my sons will forgive me for not being able to make them more recognizable. This is an are that I'll still improve, probably with oil colours, in this painting. Needless to say, this is not meant to be "photorealistic" or "hyper realistic". The technique of painting fine details with brushes is completely different from drawing, as the tip of even the smallest brush holds a wider amount of paint than a pencil.