Category Archives: Paintings

Interlaced Dress

This is working well. I’ve created a pattern over the surface of the dress to break it up more effectively than the simple layered structure it had before. It’s a lot of work, taking plenty of time, partly because the … Continue reading

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A New Cut

I’ve commented before on my dislike for the design of the yellow dress, so it will come as no surprise that I’ve started re-working the surface of the skirt, starting with a Raw Umber mixed with a little Burnt Sienna. … Continue reading

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Solid rock

On Thursday I shot photos of one of my students in the role of the Magician – I posted the sketch for it a few days ago. She has a particularly dramatic appearance that’s going to be really wonderful to paint, … Continue reading

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Liminal Columns

Dividing the columns into the fluted areas and the relief surface will help me to render the shadows in both, because I’ll be able to wipe off the glazes that otherwise would be hard to control as they spill off … Continue reading

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Magician

I’m planning on shooting reference photos for the next big painting on Friday, with a perfect model for the image. This time I’m working with an image that includes all four elements and a figure who is controlling and in … Continue reading

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The Ghosts of Architecture

The work is hard to see clearly in the photograph because much of it is white lines over white clouds. New architecture is taking shape – a pair of Doric order pillars flanking the entrance to the courtyard. Pillars have … Continue reading

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Shadows on the Face

Adding shadows to the side of the face where the hair crosses her cheek has given it more dimension, pushing the eye behind the hair and making things feel more real. I used a little Van Dyke Brown to darken … Continue reading

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A Little Help from a Friend

I’ve been reworking that face again, because I really disliked the right eye. Now I’ve done it again, taking a lead from the great Botticelli’s Madonna and Child and rendering a more introverted face that regards the Empress with a … Continue reading

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Nip and Tuck in Paint

Rising early in the morning again so that I could find a few quiet hours of painting, I trimmed the left side of the middle girl’s face so that she wasn’t quite so moon faced, then spent a while working … Continue reading

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Envy in the Maiden

I got up early today to get to the studio before other commitments took control of the day, working on altering the expression of the face from scary grin to a more detached, even slightly envious appearance. I’m much happier … Continue reading

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