Friday, May 31, 2013

The Boardwalk


It's no secret that Walt Disney World is one of my favorite places on the planet. But did you know that of all the resorts on property, my favorite is the Boardwalk Resort?

After staying here for the first time in February 2011, the Turtle and I fell in love. The atmosphere, location, mood, everything about it is wonderful. It has it's own magic that captures you as soon as you step onto its wooden walk.

It's the perfect place to walk with your sweetheart....or walk laps at midnight to walk off 5 mason jars of sangria....

And it's also home to most yummy dessert ever - the No Way Jose

So I decided to pay tribute to my favorite resort by painting it's portrait! This took awhile, and there were many, many times I thought I'd bitten off more than I could chew. But, as we all know, the more I think I should give up, the more determined I get to complete it. So, here is The Boardwalk:


This is based on the picture at the top of this post. I was so pleased with myself when I finished this little section of the sketch, as it's the most difficult part of the painting. Perspective has always been my weakness...I still remember making an absolute disaster of my first piece (and last til now) of perspective in my high school art class. After a few attempts at giving me pointers, my teacher gave up and would just walk by shaking her head (as she probably headed to go cry in a corner). Perspective involves rulers and 'points of origin' and rules, and discipline and...blyeck. No, thank you. I'm far too impatient and go-with-the-flow with my art to handle it.

So I was super impressed with myself.....until my mom pointed out that my buildings were at an angle. Then I could barely sleep that night, obsessing with how on earth I'd fix it since it's so impossible to erase on canvas. ARRRRRRRRRRG!

But, somehow I moved on and here's the rest!



When I painted the water, it took 2 days and I was so unhappy with the results after day 1, that I had to take a walk so I wouldn't smash it to pieces. I didn't take any pictures of the water step, but I did take pictures of the creative ways I had to paint. This is a 16" x 40" canvas, so when you're painting all the way on the right side, the left seems like its on another continent, and your perspective gets all messed up! Sometimes you just need to be able to step back to get a better view.


I put mom to work keeping it steady so I could paint the sides...And no, I never change my clothes ;-)

 
And finally:

"The Boardwalk"
16" x 40" original acrylic painting on canvas

Not to toot my own horn, but this picture really doesn't do it justice. There's a lot of subtle color shadings that my little camera just couldn't capture. All paintings are so much better live!

12 comments:

  1. Neat!! I love the colors on the water! My desktop right now is the opposite view of your painting. You should do both and then it could be a side-by-side series!

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    1. I'm planning on doing that next! I'm going to do Yacht Club in the same size and then a more square canvas with the Swan & Dolphon and bridge...now I just need to figure out where to put them!

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  2. Beautiful!

    Where is the Boardwalk located?? I don't even remember seeing it as a resort option!

    We just booked our October trip and OMG it's going to be Mickey's Halloween party! I think I'm going to explode between going to Harry Potter (FINALLY!) and getting to DRESS UP IN DISNEY. (My cousin who made that awesome dress for Lila is making me a BELLE COSTUME.) (Sorry for the shouty, but I know you understand the Disney love!!!)

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    1. The Boardwalk is right near Epcot...and rings a little lake with the Yacht & Beach Clubs and the Swan & Dolphin Resorts. You can walk to Epcot (and enter thru the International Gateway near England) there, and you can walk to Hollywood Studios!

      Lol! No worries, I love when people are excited about Disney! I went to that party in 2006 and it is fun, the parade is AMAZING..and 7 yrs later, the songs from it still randomly get stuck in my head with no warning.

      Harry Potter's world at Universal is ok....but be prepared for INSANE crowds and not being able to move in the stores.

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  3. I thought it looked familiar! I had to stay there for a work event, and I sneaked out one evening with my boyfriend to walk around.

    How long did that painting take you? It looks great!

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    1. Thank you! The whole thing took about a month, but I don't paint every day. Doing just the the buildings on the very right of the painting took 4 hours alone!

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  4. Wow, you are a patient person. The painting turned out GREAT! I love the colors and now I want to visit Disney World haha.

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    1. Pretty soon you can take your little Princess!

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  5. Great job Tink...sooo cool!

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  6. Nicely done! The boardwalk is such a beautiful place.

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  7. Beautiful job! Boardwalk is my wife's favorite as well.

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  8. I love it Tink! I love the details in your painting.

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