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Hang on Studio Wall
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Denise Cat

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Alan, I have added some light and medium Ochre to the skull. I also mixed some medium Ochre with white and a hint of black to get a darker tone. If it's not right please say. In any event I feel it looks much better than previous. Stephen I toned down the antlers and added more of a dark tone to the left side. I'm not sure if it needs more work. I keep looking at it. Thanks. It's the best photo I could take, the light is very bright here today but I think you can see the changes. 

Edited
by Denise Cat

Alan Bickley

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We’re getting there but not there yet! The skull and antlers are still a bit ‘in your face’ so to speak... Try mixing a warm grey glaze, not dissimilar to parts of the glass and knock back the antlers and certainly the lower parts and L/H side of the skull. Going back to tonal values again, if the background is say 10 on the scale, the lower proportion of the skull and antlers need to be around 5. Don’t despair, these things take time and this style of painting, which is loosely based on chiaroscuro isn’t easy for any of us.

Denise Cat

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Alan, thanks so much, it's clicked, I will wait for this to dry and have another crack at it. I think after lockdown, I will try and find some beginners classes for this style of painting, I really like it. I hope they do beginners classes, I would really like to learn all about this style and how to do it properly. Your advice is very much appreciated.

Alan Bickley

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The difficulty here is having to work from imagination without any props such as this skull, so you’ve done well so far. I don’t know if there’s any reference books on the technique of chiaroscuro, I imagine there will be. This style of painting generally has a single light source, if you could set something up to work from with the appropriate lighting, it would help you immensely. Footnote: a quick look at Google has bought up quite a few books on the subject!

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by Alan Bickley

Denise Cat

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Thanks, I will take a look and get a few books on board. 

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by Denise Cat

Denise Cat

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Alan, I've darkened the skull, I couldn't get a good photo because of the light in my living room so I took a couple so you could get some idea of the tone. I think I have taken it down quite a bit in parts and I think it looks much better. As to whether I think it's finished, I'm not sure.

Alan Bickley

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Well that’s a big improvement Denise, it looks like it belongs there now - good job so well done for persevering. You’re better off taking your photos outside, not in direct sunlight of course, a dull even light is perfect!

Denise Cat

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Thanks Alan, the skull was challenging having no idea, your advise has been invaluable, I will have a better idea when I do my next skull. I might tone down that left side a touch more. I'll see when it is dry. I will try that when I'm trying to take a decent photo. Thanks again Alan.
IMG_6882

Paul (Dixie) Dean

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That is looking really good Denise I can’t wait to see the final painting. You have done a fantastic job using a medium your are new to I would not even attempt such a difficult looking project  and it certainly would not look as good as this is. 
IMG_8857

Marjorie Firth

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You are persistant like me, Denise. This has been a big problem solving task but with Alan's help you've ended up with a great result. 
Moi 17

Linda Wilson

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Strangely, I used to have a skull of a Cape buffalo I my lion picture, but I painted it out as it was a distraction if I made it big enough to be real.  I agree with Marjorie, you have made a really good job of your painting.

Denise Cat

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Thanks Paul and Marjorie, Yes Marjorie, Alan has been really helpful and his third article in The Artist mag, which was delivered today was about scumbling and glazing, it had a great paragraph on the importance of tonal values, which, I wish I had in my hands a couple of weeks ago. Nice article Alan, I've just had a good read. Something I will keep referring back to. Thanks Linda.

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by Denise Cat

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