The Evolution of a Painting: Seagull's View, St Ives
- 2 days ago
- 2 min read
One of the questions Serena gets asked the most is, "How long does it take to complete one of your paintings?"
While every painting is different depending on its size and the medium used, most of Serena's original paintings take around three months to complete from the first ideas to the finished artwork.
From Sketch to Finished Painting
Every painting begins long before the first brushstroke.
After visiting the location (and/or working from reference photographs), Serena creates a detailed working drawing to plan the composition and capture the character of the scene. This is usually her favourite part of the process. She loves moving buildings, roads and little details around until everything feels just right and she finds a composition she really loves. Artistic licence!
Using the working drawing as a guide, Serena carefully paints the outline onto the canvas. Only then does the colour gradually build up over many weeks, transforming a simple outline into a vibrant scene full of humour, movement and detail.
Watch 'Seagull's View, St Ives' Come to Life
This time-lapse video follows the creation of Seagull's View, St Ives, an original oil painting inspired by the bustling harbour and creative spirit of St Ives.
One of the most enjoyable parts is comparing the early working drawing which looks little more than a messy sketch with the finished painting. Seeing how those first scribbles develop into a colourful, detailed artwork offers a fascinating glimpse into the creative process.
The Challenge of Another St Ives Painting
Serena’s first St Ives painting was created as a mixed-media artwork on paper in the early 2000s. Like most of her paintings, it was reproduced as an art print and continues to be enjoyed today through selected licensing partnerships, local galleries, outlets and online.
Serena was initially a little nervous about creating another St Ives painting, as the original had become such a popular favourite. She didn’t want to simply repeat what she had done before, but instead wanted to capture a different side of this much-loved Cornish town.
Eventually, she decided to take the plunge and create 'Seagull’s View, St Ives', a new perspective of the town, painted in oils on canvas, which we feel complements the original St Ives painting beautifully.
