Masjid Al'Azraq - stage 1

 While I was painting "The Bazaar of Azam Shah" I got the idea to try and paint another large space, this time inside a mosque and this time all in blues as a nice contrast to the previous few paintings. Originally I wanted to do The Blue Mosque in Istanbul but couldn't come up with anything particularly useful in Midjourney so I moved my range to general mosque architecture when finally Midjourney came up with a few images that were nearer to what I was looking for. I am going to paint it mainly in blues but I will introduce some warm yellow/orange by introducing (actually a feature of The Blue Mosque) a hanging circle of of mosque lights in the distance under the dome.

If it works out OK I will treat this as a companion piece to "The Bazaar Of Azam Shah" and show it at IX in October.

Oil on linen 22" x 16". 

This is a preliminary tonal underpainting using only a rag with my Burnt Sienna/Winsor Violet mix thinned with Liquin. After this I intend to just use blues as I don't want much of the warm underpainting to show through.

Midjourney

 

The Bazaar of Azam Shah

 Following on from "Misbah Street" this is another Orientalist painting based on a Midjourney piece that was "drawn up" using only a rag and my usual mix of Burnt Sienna and Winsor Violet thinned with Liquin.

I liked the basic Midjourney piece but wanted it to have the feel of a larger space so I improvised the architectural details,  most of it being made up as I went along. I originally planned for the figures being much closer but changed my mind and made them smaller which helps to support the idea of a larger space. I was a bit worried about it looking a bit monochrome so I introduced the green/blue complementary is a few places like the hanging lanterns to give more variety to the colour. In fact it was intended to be richer in colour than here but the painting seemed to want to go it's own way!

I intend to exhibit this at IX in Reading PA in October.

Oil on linen 22" x 16"

There is a step-by-step progress through this painting including the colours I used in previous posts on this blog.

Midjourney

 

International Guild of Realism

 Happy to report that my painting "Ghost Station" has been accepted for inclusion in the International Guild of Realism's 2022 Fall Online Salon exhibition. I did have until very recently my painting "Pawn" on exhibition at the McBride Gallery in Annapolis MD as part of the 16th Annual International Guild of Realism for which I went over to the USA to attend the Private View.

"Ghost Station is part of an ongoing series of paintings called "The Big Sky" (or "Roadside America"!) and I will return to painting some more after I have got together enough paintings to take to IX in Reading PA in October.

Oil on linen 30" x 20".

Misbah Street sold

 Pleased to report that "Misbah Street" sold immediately on Every Day Original yesterday to a buyer in Utah.

Oil on fine cotton 16" x 12".

Tha Bazaar of Azam Shah - stage 3

 Sorted out the background and have now started on the arches and  the market stall on the right. I stopped here as I need to have a think about colours from here on and will make a decision over tomorrow's breakfast coffee. I'm not sure whether to keep the colours analgous based around reds and yellows or to introduce some different colours into it....

The Bazaar of Azam Shah - stage 2

 I made a start by sorting out the background which I wasn't sure about. I wanted to get across a huge space in a Middle Eastern building but not like a mosque as this is a secular building. I'm still not sure what happens behind the arch on the right, I guess I will sort that out tomorrow over my breakfast coffee. I also made a start on the arch on the left by applying some darker paint to see how the contrast works.

New colours used, Naples Yellow and Warm Light Yellow.

The Bazaar of Azam Shah - stage 1

 Following on from "Misbah Street" this is another painting originating from a Midjourney piece and another that has been "drawn up" with just a rag and no brush using my usual mix of Burnt Sienna and Winsor Violet thinned with Liquin. What you see here is the basic tonal underpainting from yesterday with an extra pass of the Sienna/Violet mix and some colour roughed in. Like the previous painting I want this to be soft and atmospheric and will follow the original Midjourney piece quite a lot but also not...

Colours used so far: Winsor Violet, Burnt Sienna, Transparent Oxide Red, Permanent Orange, Yellow Lake Deep and Cadmium Yellow Light.

Oil on linen 22" x 16".