PD3 Blake Canmore-Canadian Rockies

The finish line, the end of the road, the closing of a book........finishing a painting. It is said that we must enjoy the journey as we move along, and not rush to the destination. I have to say that in the last few stages of a painting, I sometimes am in a rush to complete it.To step back, be happy with the end result, is rewarding. I know I am at the journeys end when I sign the piece.

In the final stages of PD3, I put a bit more detail on the peaks. I also focus a bit on the bus, laying down a darker brown to capture the canvas on the upper cover. I want to show that PD3 is a gathering place, so I add bikes into the image. With my drawing pencil, I graft in lines on the ground, capturing the cinderblock base that everything rests on. One of the final stages of PD3 is to take a fine, permanent pen and lay down lines to capture the detail of the bus, the umbrellas and the furniture.

It's time to sign PD3.

Thank you for being part of the journey.
Robert Krysak

PD3 Blake Canmore-Canadian Rockies

The next stage of working on PD3 is to add colour to the umbrellas and chairs. At this point with the image I step back from the painting to make sure there is contrast and definition. I then add layers/tone to the bus and the bushes. I also add a layer of sepia on the peaks to help them pop.
Robert Krysak

PD3 Blake Canmore-Canadian Rockies

It's always an interesting journey creating a new painting. I mask out areas with a liquid gum to make sure I have crisp, clean lines later on. I then mix a variety of cobalt blue and cerulean blue with ultramarine for the sky.

The next step is to put some paynes grey and sepia on to the peaks. I then lay down a shade of grey on the bus. I also add some green to depict trees/bushes to the right. It's a really cool place to have a restaurant....fun to have eaten there and now to create an image of the area.

The next stage is to add more grey to the bus, darken in the windows, put some colour in the trees and add some grey to the foreground to capture the cinder block ground.

Robert Krysak

PD3 Blake Canmore-Canadian Rockies

A friend of mine is Operations Manager/Chef at the PD3/Blake in Canmore. Blake is an award winning, chic modern industrial converted car garage, offering creative, international fusion food and drinks. PD3 is a Bustaurant in the heart of downtown Canmore to satisfy all your cravings. Choose from a 5 course seated Fine Dining Menu, or grab a fusion taco and a beer from the food truck window.

I was asked to create a painting for PD3 (that will be used as a gift card), featuring the double decker bus with mountains in the background. Commissions are always a unique challenge, as you want to capture the subject in the best way you can, while adding your own creative ideas to the image.

I went to PD3 and walked around the bus, taking photos from many angles, and getting a "feel" for the surroundings. I then sent a few of my image choices to my friend asking which one she preferred. The image of choice was the one above.

The next step of the image was to sketch out the general outline. My goal was to capture the unique double decker bus, tables and chairs and the bushes surrounding the site. This is usually the longest stage of the  creative process, as you want to make sure your finished piece looks like the subject in the photo.