Wednesday, October 12, 2016

Joan of Arc: Part 4 Finish






The Maid of Orleans
2016
24"x48"
oil on wood panel


The completion of my painting Joan of Arc was delayed by a series of personal misfortunes.  I broke my foot this past spring and was confined to crutches for two months, followed by a case of pneumonia which landed me in the hospital for a week.  After what seemed an intolerable convalescence I was finally able to get back to work on the painting in June.  The first week in August I had completed the painting and was able to bring it to Gen Con in Indianapolis where it received glowing reviews from friends and fans.  At the end of August the painting was displayed again at The Delaware Art Museum in Wilmington where it had acquired a distinctive frame. 
This month I was finally able to get the painting professionally photographed in order to document and share the painting to its best effect.

The final details of this painting were possibly the most important and rewarding stage of the work.  Compositionally designed to be graphic, the finishing details are what brought the piece to life.  Each form of the image was individually detailed with painstaking brushwork to create a patchwork quilt of textiles, metal, leather, chainmail and gold brocade.  In this respect the painting achieved the Gothic impression that I was striving for, stitched together like a tapestry.

I hope you enjoy the details work as much as I enjoyed working on them.  During the week of October 20-23, 2016 I will be attending Illuxcon in Reading, PA.  I hope you get the chance to come see the work I in person.

Enjoy

WOC



 

 Maid of Orleans- Detail