A day of portraits

1st pull Stacey, akua intaglio on paper 10 x 15 cm

2st pull (with added ink) Stacey, akua intaglio on paper 10 x 15 cm

final print (press and release agent) Stacey, akua intaglio on paper 10 x 15 cm

I was surprised how straight-forward it was to make monotypes and to paint on a couple of prepared panels with egg tempera in a group portrait setting.  Of course, I forgot a few things and had to find solutions…  

I covered a board with cling film (which I had brought) to use as a mixing tray as I had forgotten those..  I didn't have my spoon or barren so used the back of a fingernail brush and then a metal teaspoon to transfer the print. Carol doesn't have water in the studio so I had eggy hands after separating the yolk but it's amazing what you can ignore!

David posed first and I used my traveling egg tempera kit.  He is very still. I used lots of egg yolk, working from blocks of colour to more detail. Because I didn't have a big area to mix colour on and because I had carried the loose pigment and some had intermingled, it was difficult to keep the colour fresh. We all find his beard difficult to deal with.  I thought about Anthony Williams and wondered whether I should find out what other artists do.

When Stacey arrived I needed a new egg yolk and this time I had one of my hen's eggs.  The yolk was much yellower so everything became more brown; this was a surprise.  Stacey moved back from her forward leaning position and I had to stop as everything changed.

The series of monotypes followed.

Stacey, egg tempera on prepared panel 16 x 23 cm

David, egg tempera on prepared panel 16 x 23 cm