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New Practice - Exploration

This piece is inspired by the imitation of an original painting of Auguste von Harrach by Heinrich Abel Seijffert circa 1828.  An interesting note about the piece from the Royal Collection Trust is that the original painting was done in watercolor on ivory--such an uncommon combination based on what I can find in a Duck Duck Go search. 

This work was done on Strathmore Visual Journal watercolor paper (140lb.)  It has one coat of Liquitex Matte Medium on it. Applying Sharpies over the coated paper didn't work (results were too transparent).  So the painting has been completed with Folk Art matte acrylics.  The black lines were made with a Pentel PointLiner (0.3mm) and gold embellishments made with a Sakura PenTouch.  In this one, I also had to go over the black lines after painting it...difficult to do.

I like using this paper but have yet to test Sharpies applied directly to it.  That said, what I like about this piece is, again, the gradation of color families to create the lighter and darker wavy line-shaped areas.  I also like the yellows in the background because they complement the face and draw the eye to it.  I also like the sleeves/bodice of her gown, and the gradation of the neck color from orangish chin to light pink chest.  

This will be my last piece using the Folk Art matte acrylics.  I've learned they are not my cup of tea. Now it's on to experimenting with tempera paints, tube watercolors, my new Nova Color paints, acrylic gouache, and Golden fluid acrylics.  

The exploration continues...

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