Amelia’s Feet

          

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Amelia’s feet are progressing well, and I’ve added a shadow to the ground to her right so she touches the ground. I added some shadows and details to the rocks, and will continue bringing colour into the surfaces of these stones. I added the words “Solve et Coagula” (Dissolve and coagulate) very faintly to the sword blade, as this is the alchemical motto to continue with the repeated purification of the element as the alchemist searches for the one thing. I left it almost invisible so that it becomes one of the secrets of the painting that will be noticed by the attentive eye. I think people love to know secrets about works of art, and I love providing them. 

I’ve done some work to the hand, bringing some more effective flesh tones to the skin, which had become a bit lifeless. It will need some drawing to fix it up properly now, so I’ll break out the burnt sienna next to fix edges and define the shapes of the fingers more effectively. 

Right now I’m heading out for some lunch, camera in hand so that I can get some reference pictures of people eating for the Temperance painting.