Category Archives: Tarot-related paintings

Symbolism to come

I’m preparing to include more detail in the environment of the Empress by repainting her face completely. Model Keziah will be in the studio tomorrow, so I”ll get her to pose for me so I can improve the Empress. Keziah … Continue reading

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Colour!

The warm yellow and orange paint I’ve added to the dresses so far looks incredibly bright over the gray tones that have been the work of the last couple of months. I’ll continue adding the colours onto all the dresses … Continue reading

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Slabs

The veining work is almost complete, and although the slabs still look a little bare without the shadows of the architecture to create the play of light upon them, I think it’s working nicely. The girls will also need cast … Continue reading

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Veins

Painting the marble veining has made the day entertaining and worthwhile. I’ve been studying the Pre-Raphaelite painter Alma-Tadema‘s work to understand how he did his delightful passages of white stone in his beautiful paintings of an idealized Victorian version of antiquity, and … Continue reading

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Cracks, Clouds, and Velatura

I’m pleased with the way the sky has been going. I added some Ceramic white to the tops of the cumuli, making them more substantial and a little fluffier than they were, again letting the top edges stay bright and … Continue reading

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Clouds and Architecture

Last night I visited Continental Art Supply over in Reseda to attend a special event there to meet representatives from major paint and art supply companies, among others Art Graham of M. Graham paint. He was, as always, charming company, … Continue reading

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Clouds

By using dense Ceramic White to create the highest fluffy tops of the clouds I’m able to scumble paint down, then rag it to soften the body. Once the softening work is done for the first mass I’ll repeat the … Continue reading

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Colour!

Having finished the en grisaille work I began working on the sky and ocean with a lovely Cobalt Blue from M Graham which seemed incredibly intense until it was ragged down to make the grey base coat emerge as the … Continue reading

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Six and a half feet

This is a significant day in the growth of this painting, because with the completion of the Raw Umber work on the legs I’ve pretty much finished with the en grisaille layer, with the exception of the cherry trees that … Continue reading

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Legs to stand on

Actually, if you’ve been counting, you’ll know that there are only seven legs beneath the girls. I’m not adding the eighth, which should be supporting the second attendant from the right because it would mess with the rather pleasing “M” … Continue reading

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