Elen - stage 6

As you can see the painting is based around a yellow/ violet complementary colour axis although the intention this time is to have the top in highly saturated colour and the bottom two thirds (yes it is also composed with The Rule Of Thirds in mind) in more neutral tones. Looks like I have decided to have a waterfall instead of snow but plenty of decisions still to be made on the foreground details.

Elen - stage 5

That's as much as I can do on this visit to the studio, back on Friday and Saturday when I hope to finish the background. It's another painting that's hard to photograph, with the sunshine in the studio this morning giving it a more yellow cast. In the actual painting the sun isn't quite as clearly defined as it appears here. There will need to be some dark areas in the foreground for the lighting I have planned to work, the trick is not to make it too dark and use more subdued colours so that the top part of the painting glows with sunlight.

Elen - stage 4

Have started to work on the background trees and have noticed that I need to thin them out a little next painting session. There are more red/oranges in the picture than is apparent here and need to get the transition right from the background brightly lit trees to the darker foreground and mid-ground.

Elen - stage 3

Washed in with a rag a glaze of Transparent Yellow on the top making sure to place the sun disc and a glaze of a mix of Winsor Violet and Ultramarine Violet on the foreground. I am now considering the possibility of changing the snowy path into a waterfall; will think on it over the next few days that I am away from the studio, back on Sunday.

Elen - stage 2

I have now put in a tonal underpainting which starts to give more of an idea about how the lighting and colours will work. I used Burnt Sienna thinned with Liquin for the top background of the picture and a mix of Burnt Sienna, Alizarin Crimson and Winsor Violet thinned with Liquin and turpentine on the foreground.

Infected By Art

I am pleased to see that "Cold Constantinople" has been accepted for inclusion in the Infected By Art Book - Volume 5. This is the third time in as many years that I have had work accepted, the painting will also be in the upcoming Art Renewal Center's International Salon Competition Catalogue as well as in a four page feature on my work in the February/ March 2017 issue of International Artist magazine.

Elen - stage 1

This painting follows on from "Faeral" in that I have another horned figure, this time Elen, the red-haired Goddess Of The Ways who presides over amongst other things tracks and pathways in woods and forests, sort of a Green Lady.
I have as my model once again Naomi Wood whose horned head dress I have extended to be more like deer's antlers. The idea for the painting as usual is all about the lighting with the figure and foreground in subdued purple/greys against a forest lit by the rising sun, the disc itself between the horns above her head. Basically warm saturated colours in the background against cool subdued colours in the foreground. I will have some snow on the pathway snaking through the middle of the foreground and other selected areas.
This was "drawn" with a small brush using Burnt Sienna mixed with Liquin and turpentine.

Naomi Wood

I am currently in the planning stage for a follow-on painting from "Faeral"  and a few days ago Naomi Wood who modeled for it came over to the studio for the photography session. Here she is with her horned head dress in front of the first painting. 
In the next painting the figure will be a bit smaller within a similar wooded setting with the rising sun between her horns on a misty morning - no title that I am happy with yet!

Palazetto Malcanton sold

Asgard Arts have just sold one of my Venetian nocturne paintings "Palazetto Malcanton" to a buyer in the UK that bought another Venetian painting a few months ago. This building just across the canal from where I was staying in San Polo (I think) is available to rent-nice spot! Oil on board 12" x 12".