Piece #065 - SCULPTED PAINTING - Inspired by Killarney - nearing the Crack

This piece was inspired by one of our hiking expeditions to Killarney Provincial Park back in 2007. It was a gorgeous mid fall trip that took us from George Lake and up quite a climb to what is known as the Crack, where A.Y. Jackson of the Group of Seven studied views looking westward to O.S.A. Lake.

Just before approaching the further ascent to the Crack is a resting point, where this Tree sits, looking towards Georgian Bay as it sits at 400m elevation. This resting point is one of the first OPEN VIEWS to Georgian Bay after a long upward climb through the beautiful hemlock forests.

Stu captures the contrasting hard and soft edges of this rock in his bas-relief carving. After lamination, he refined this cedar panel to a thickness of only 1 inch where he carves into the piece to remove wood. (In bas-relief sculpture, nothing is added to the panel, everything is removed). So to feel the depth as you touch the painting, and see the dramatic shadows up close under key lighting, it’s amazing to try to understand just how much Stu has carved!

He captures the ‘feel’ of the wind by bringing out and working with the natural grain of the wood around the tree.

Once Carol paints the piece, at first glance, the carving becomes ‘hidden’, until the piece is lit in dramatic ways … then the illusion becomes stronger and the sculpture and painting comes alive!

Click thumbnail to enlarge each image

  • Carol breaking through the forest to see the sun! Approaching 'the rock and tree'.
  • The gaping void between the two mountain tops, is THE CRACK.
  • One of the reference photos for the Painting.
  • Sketch for the painting.
  • Sculpted Painting of Killarney
    34 x 46
    Private Commission
  • A different angle of 'The tree'.
  • Gorgeous View towards Georgian Bay from the Rock photo.
  • Back of laminated wood structure with epoxy added
  • Back of laminated wood structure after epoxy has been sanded
  • Rock and Tree
    Early Stages, carving of wood in sculptor, Stu Leggett's Studio Sketch to scale of the artwork is posted on the wall to the left
    Feb 2011
  • Tree early in carving process
  • Tree and Sky after carving and grain texture created
  • Lil Rock, Big Rock, Tree
    Sculpted Painting
    Closeup of Tree Panel Three
    Private Commission
  • After completing the carving, Stu spends hours and hours of fine sanding the work using several tools and techniques. Here, Stu is using one of his larger sanders.
  • The sky on this piece however requires patience and skill in fine sanding with a much smaller tool. It's crazy hard!
  • A long ways to go in the sanding process ... note the upper lighter area has been sanded, while the more orange glossy surface has not.
  • Stu applying the final coating before priming and cutting to size.
  • Stu brushing on epoxy left to right to seal the surface of the wood.
  • No turning back now! Stu is making his second cut.
  • Laying the lines to make the rough cuts to size.
  • And that's a *thumb's up*! The single panel is now a rough sized triptych.
  • Stu suiting up to use the heavy handtools. He's very safety oriented. yah think?
  • Carol measuring the spacing between panels to ensure accuracy of composition.
  • And there it is ... the final triptych. Now Stu will coat the freshly cut edges and put the final coatings on the piece before it goes to Carol's studio.
  • Killarney, Sculpted Painting, Beginning of the painting process.
  • Killarney, Sculpted Painting, Painting blocked into sections of colour/tones
  • Carol doing the final touches of Killarney, Sculpted Painting
  • Little Rock, Big Rock, Tree
    Sculpted Painting
    34 x 46 Triptych Acrylics on bas relief cedar panel Private Commission
  • Lil Rock, Big Rock, Tree
    Sculpted Painting
    angle view of panel one
    Private Commission
  • Lil Rock, Big Rock, Tree
    sculpted painting
    Angle view of panel one
    Private Commission
  • Lil Rock, Big Rock, Tree
    Sculpted Painting
    Angle view of panel one
    Private Commission
  • Lil Rock, Big Rock, Tree
    Sculpted Painting
    Dramatic Lighting of Panel One
    Private Commission
  • Lil Rock, Big Rock, Tree
    Sculpted Painting
    Closeup of Lil Rock Panel One
    Private Commission
  • Lil Rock, Big Rock, Tree
    Sculpted Painting
    Angle View of Panel Two
    Private Commission
  • Lil Rock, Big Rock, Tree
    Sculpted Painting
    Closeup Boulder and lil Tree on Panel two
  • Lil Rock, Big Rock, Tree
    Sculpted Painting
    Closeup of lil Tree
    PRivate Commission
  • Lil Rock, Big Rock, Tree
    Sculpted Painting
    Angle View of Panel Three
    Private Commission
  • Entrance Wall, BEFORE installation of Sculpted Painting, May 2011
  • Entrance Wall AFTER Installation of Sculpted Painting, May 2011