A Tale of Two Swans - Splashdance

Smaller trial artwork

Sometimes an artwork begins long before the final painting reaches the easel. For my latest contemporary swan painting, I decided to take a different approach by creating two versions of the same subject: one small and one much larger.

The finished larger artwork

My idea was simple. The smaller painting would act as an experiment, allowing me to explore the composition, colours and techniques before committing to the main piece. It's an approach many artists use. Great paintings are often preceded by studies, sketches or exploratory works where ideas can evolve without the pressure of creating a finished masterpiece.

This subject was something quite different for me. Rather than painting a realistic swan, I wanted to create a semi-abstract swan artwork that suggested movement, energy and splashing water - rather like the effect captured by a slow shutter speed photograph. I also wanted to make cerulean blue the dominant colour, a pigment I hadn't previously explored to this extent. Stepping outside my comfort zone felt both exciting and inspiring.

Knowing the smaller canvas was purely experimental gave me a wonderful sense of freedom. Working on a less expensive canvas and using fewer materials meant there was very little to lose. More importantly, I wasn't striving for perfection. Instead, I allowed the paint to flow, embracing expressive brushstrokes and leaving parts of the painting intentionally loose and open to interpretation.

The result surprised me. The study captured exactly the sense of movement and atmosphere I had hoped for, giving me the confidence to tackle the larger version on a 90 × 60 cm gallery-wrapped canvas.

Although the larger painting retains its loose, gestural style, I chose to bring greater realism to the swan's head. By refining this single area, the eye is naturally drawn to the focal point, while the sweeping brushstrokes and energetic splashes surrounding it create a feeling of grace, motion and freedom.

Creating these two paintings reminded me that experimentation is an essential part of the creative process. Sometimes the "practice" piece teaches you everything you need to know, and sometimes it becomes a successful artwork in its own right.

I hope you enjoy the finished painting as much as I enjoyed creating it. If you'd like to see it in person, it will be exhibited at the Odiham Art Group Exhibition on 22nd and 23rd August 2026. I'd love to hear what you think.