As I have mentioned, the resulting beauty of the copper shimmering through the paint and brushstrokes is my goal here. Initially, I was wont to cover much of the surface but after many experiments, I began to achieve more of the look I could see in my mind’s eye. Because the format is a small modello, 6×6 inches, it is easier to ‘play’ with the mediums, paints, colors, and brushstrokes. I used the Strasbourg medium here which created a perfect pull on my brush.
In this close-up detail, you can see the pieces of paint and brushstrokes. The darkness to the left is a mixture of raw umber, black, and cinnabar. Following across the surface from left to right, you can see the copper glowing through at the edge of the gourd. This shows the streaks of the brush with lots of the metal showing. I kept wiping away the paint in certain areas to create thin atmosphere around the main objects. In contrast, the paint on the objects is really thick and piled on. I used flake white, lead-tin yellow, cinnabar, and Amazonite. Amazonite mixed with some yellow ochre or lead-tin yellow makes a splendid green.
On the same painting, on the right hand side, are two Chinese lanterns. The pieces of light value paint under them describe the light hitting the top surface of the table. The front edge of the table is nearly all pure copper with medium and some paint to feature the brushstrokes. I’ll do some color swatches for you to see next time. Anyone have a specific request?
