Practice

Today's work is based on John Melhuish Strudwick's Angel with a Scroll dated 1895.

The image was sketched with mechanical pencil (HB core) and painted primarily with Japanese watercolors plus a few fluid acrylics (gold, white, purple).  Other embellishments were done with a gold Sakura Pen Touch marker and a black Pentel PointLiner (0.3mm).  

This was quite an undertaking!  It is a double panel from my new sketchbook.  I had to use a ruler for the background that has perspective.  What I like most are the wings because there is a sense of form to them.  By the way, this is the second time I've painted a face in with watercolor.  

Areas that didn't come out well include the pink clothing--the top didn't work well in that color.  Her body looks a bit awkward, but it is partially due to the lines used to reflect fabric folds.  I think I could have taken off some girth and perhaps added a bit of height to the figure.  For now, though, it is done.  I'm glad I took it on.  It was a reach and a good effort and learning experience.  Because I love Strudwick's work, it made the process most enjoyable.