Mural Watch: Step One

Brad and his former professor, mentor and dear friend, artist William Woodward have been commissioned by the B.F. Saul Company to paint a mural for the lobby of the new Park Van Ness apartment building in Washington, D.C.  The subject is Rock Creek Park in early spring, and features the historical Boulder Bridge, one of the oldest bridges in the Park. The mural measures 5 x 9 feet, is painted in oil on linen canvas, and due to be completed in April 2016.

We’ll be following the many stages of the mural’s development, so stay tuned.

Here’s how it all began:

After scouting the location around Boulder Bridge and making many rough compositional sketches, Brad and William begin the monochromatic preparatory drawing for the mural using techniques dating back to the Renaissance.  First, they toned a large piece (42″ x 78″) of rag paper with sanguine conté powder, and then created the landscape using charcoal and trios crayons (black, white and sanguine conté crayons).

William Woodward begins the preliminary drawing for the Rock Creek mural.

Emma, studio assistant and all-round general distraction, looks on.

Former professor and student working in tandem.

Brad working on the trees in the foreground.