Panel Progress on "The 'Mary' in Kimberly"

Further work here on my panel painting in laying down the initial layer (actually two layers of egg tempera in some darker parts) for the hair, working flesh-tones over the green underpainting, and enhancing shadow areas on the skin which will be softened with further layers.

"The 'Mary' in Terry"

(click on the image for a larger view)

Recently I reconnected with a friend from high school days, Terry Sebastian.  Terry and I used to sit across from each other in art class, and we found each other again on Facebook.  Terry lives in Utah, but while spending time with family in PA, she made a trip to New York for two days to visit me before she went back home.  We had a great time, and I was delighted too that she agreed to do a wonderful photo session for "The 'Mary' in Terry."  Here is the first drawing I've done from our work together.  I hope I did justice to the photos I worked from for this try.

Thank you so much, Terry.  I'm really excited and grateful too over how we were able to reconnect with each other in this special way about art again, especially after so many years!

Terry enjoys abstract expressionist painting in encaustic.

Second try - More on the Mary in Kimberly

(click on image for a larger view)

This image was hard to capture, so here is another try with my camera, in case it's helpful.

Discovered today when I logged onto this blog that all my posts had disappeared!  Quelle nightmare!  Luckily, I figured out how to bring them back, but sorry if you logged on to find nothing at all here earlier today.  

Happy Valentine's Day to everyone!

More on the Mary in Kimberly

Next Layer

The next step is to add the 'apple in the cheek,' which in classical painting terms means to add a thin red glaze over the green under-painting around the cheek bones and all areas where the bone comes close to the skin---tip of nose and fingertips, etc. I am using Vermillion in lighter areas and Cadmium Red in darker areas. It is intentionally overdone because it will soften considerably and smooth out as I continue to build up layers of flesh tones and place cool layers on top of warm layers. I have also begun to lay in the first layer of the hair around the face to help me perceive better whether the values on the face are approaching what I want.