Madonna of the Streets (Stage 3)
Now emerging out of the paint is the more detailed version of the statue. (Compare to previous two days). At this stage, I am inclined to quit before I finish, so that I do not lose a fresh and loose look to the painting, but always I see more to improve. If I work further on this piece, I might try to finesse the madonna’s white stone eyes, but sometimes it is better to leave well enough alone! The original painting by Feruzzi upon which the statue was modeled, has a homey story behind it. It is said that the artist used an eleven year old girl and her little brother as models, draped in some beautiful cloth to give us the wonderful image. He called it “Madonna of the Streets” because she is walking forward with the child.
Madonna of the Streets (Stage 2)
In the second stage, you can see that I worked on intensifying the darks; later they will accent the statue’s lights. Compare this to yesterday’s post of Stage 1. Though I am working on a mainly monochromatic image, I also worked some beautiful color into the shadows; later, this will add some richness to the painting. You can see that the painting often moves from large to smaller detail, so at this point, I am not concerned with facial features yet. If I can get the shapes of dark and light correct, I will know, for example, where to put an eye, mouth, etc.
Madonna of the Streets (Stage 1)
Here is the skeleton of a painting I have recently worked on. It is from a photo I took of an engaging statue of Mary and Jesus, fashioned after the painting “Madonna of the Streets” by Roberto Feruzzi in the late 1800’s. The first stage of traditional painting involves a toned canvas and the “mapping out” of darks and lights. Usually the drawing is all done by brush, so I never begin with a pencil drawing. It would be lost under the first layer of paint anyway, and there are many more layers to go. I thought this week I might share some of the painting process of with you.
Cranberry Candle
Odds and ends sometimes contribute to a whimsical painting. Here is a scented cranberry candle in a glass jar, creating a reflection in a semi-shiny surface. Does the little wooden bird appreciate this artistic delight? It seems his painted eye tells the story of shock that someone would put his favorite berries into wax, perfume, and glass.
Tulips
Most of the time, something is before my eyes when I paint; this time it was a figment of my imagination. Tulips, with their cup-like shapes and wonderful colors make attractive bouquets… and paintings also.
