The first step for creating my oil on canvas is to transfer the composition that was created on my computer using GIMP software ( a free open source photo manipulation program).
One. I printed the composition on sheets of letter paper using the tile image function in Adobe Illustrator.
Two, three and four. I turned the paper around to the back side and using a contè crayon (or use a soft pencil) covered the back with and even layer of dark crayon.
Five. I turn the paper back around and tape it to my canvas. Then I proceed to trace the details of the image, pressing hard to transfer the crayon to canvas.
Six. Then I remove the paper and will begin to draw the missing details and clean up the lines
In the last W.I.P. I explained how I transferred my composition to the canvas. Now after cleaning up the lines and drawing back all the details I have begun the underpainting which you can see on the top ceiling area. Notice the very straight lines. This painting had a interesting challenge from the start. The wall paper is striped and a very important part of the idea. I decided to try something usually used for watercolors or airbrush, masking. So I knew for this to work I would need a very smooth canvas. So I found a good tip on the Web from an airbrush artist who likes to paint on canvas.
So I have found that to be a good decision and the masking working well.
Decisions, decisions. I have completed more of the underpainting on the background wall. Even after two coats on two separate evenings of work I was having trouble getting the smooth graduations I had intended. And yet, the wall does have a painterly effect. It reminds me a little of Edward Hoppers work. Am I being lazy or should I keep it this way?
W.I.P. Here is a detail of the underpainting of the painting within a painting, The Nightmare and the creature behind the walls...
Just completed the background wallpaper underpainting. Please remind me with a swift kick in the posterior region to never again choose a striped wallpaper background!
The underpainting of the background elements complete. Now for the real fun stuff, the figures.
At last, the underpainting is complete. Next steps will be to start glazing colors.
Here is the final painting. Sorry I did not include more pictures of the glazing layers but there where so many different layers and so little time.
