Progress Update 12: Kimberly With Roses

"Kimberly With Roses" egg tempera on panel in progress (click the image twice for a larger view)

Due to several projects I must work on this Fall offline, it's been a while since my last post, but my work on "Kimberly with Roses" continues. I have laid down an initial underpainting in two layers on the background, added to the bottom of the painting, and have also decided to re-work several portions of the veil on the left side, to balance out the amount of decoration on the left and right sides of the veil. One advantage egg tempera has over acrylic and oil is that I can still either wash off or scrape off with my palette knife an area which is already dry to the touch and completely re-work it as you can see me doing here on the lower left side of the painting.

Progress Update 11: Kimberly With Roses

"Kimberly With Roses" egg tempera on panel in progress (click the image two times for a larger view)

I've been continuing my work on her veil's gold fringe, and on related areas in the forehead, face and neck, continuing to establish tonal layers.

"Kimberly With Roses" progress update

19 1/2" x 15 1/4", egg tempera (in progress) on true gesso panel

Here I have been working on the roses and the area immediately around them.

Progress on "Kimberly with Roses"

19 1/2" x 15 1/4", egg tempera (in progress) on true gesso panel

Still laying in the first layer of paint on portions of this, since patterns take time, and I have devoted several painting sessions to this egg tempera portrait since my last progress report.

Preparing the first panel for gilding

I've paused my work on this portrait to begin the gold-leafing for it's background which helps establish the outline of the veil. Later on I'll be adding mother-of-pearl as a border.

Kimberly with roses egg tempera on panel - beginning the veil

I'm working from several photos I took, but this is my main reference picture

Detail showing my start on the veil

"Spirit of Aretha"

"Spirit of Aretha," 4" x 4", egg tempera miniature portrait on Kelmscott vellum, (available from my website) (c) Mona Diane Conner 2009

My portrait of Aretha Franklin is posting on my miniature blog, but it shows the "Mary" in Aretha; it's her shining moment, so it's placed here too.