Sunday, August 21, 2022

“All Souls Procession Study”

I've had to sort of regroup after mom died. Most of my current projects are on hold. I did manage to start this small 11x14 inch piece to keep my chops up. That is all I can muster.

Session 1
Session 2
Session 3

Friday, May 6, 2022

“The Battle of San Romano” Reproduction, Part 0.1: Materials

My Blick order came yesterday. It consisted of powdered pigments, mostly earth pigments, though some modern pigments too, some walnut oil, gesso, tools for mixing pigments, and a hardboard surface to do a compositional study before I do the big mammajamma.

I’ve looked at some recipes online for egg tempera. Usually they use egg yoke, distilled water, and a little oil to keep it “open.” I chose walnut oil, which was a commonly used period alternative to linseed oil.

My plan is to do a series of studies to try and master painting with egg tempera before doing the final, to scale study, and finally the big one.

That is all for now. I plant to post each step along the way.


 

Saturday, April 30, 2022

“Battle of San Romano” Reproduction, Part 0

Okay, I’ve got one commission to do first, but I’m getting excited about my new project. I’m going to try and do a reproduction of the piece below. The piece is called “The Battle of San Romano” by Paulo Uccello, a Florentine artist from the 1400s. 

My wife and I saw the piece at The National Gallery in London in 2019, before the pandemic. When I saw saw it, I said, that looks like photos I’ve been taking at Estrella all these years. The composition will be my own, from my Estrella photos, but the technique and materials will all be period. It will also be about a quarter the size of the original. I’m expecting the project to take a year or more. 

Wish me luck! I might make posts about my progress.

Friday, April 29, 2022

“Dour Man Wearing Jaunty Hat”


Back to a chiaroscuro style portrait, but utilizing some thicker, chunkier paint to give it some spontaneity, and a painterly quality.

Friday, April 1, 2022