egg tempera underpainting

I've been busier at work than my lack of recent posts suggests. But here's what I'm currently experimenting with. I used to work in egg tempera underpaintings (for oils) and just whipped up my first batch in many years, having discovered my old "potters pigments." There are many recipes for egg tempera -- mine consists of egg yolk, damar varnish, refined linseed oil and water. This is mixed with dry color or powdered pigments and is generally used for underpaintings. My training for portraits called for highlights in white and shadows in terre verde. I did find that the titanium white had granulated a bit, which surprised me. I had to re-grind it in a morter and pestle to get result with the same smooth quality I recall (and actually, I think it does need further grinding). The green was fine. So, I'll likely sand the underpainting a tad, when fully dry, to remove some of the granular effect, before applying glazes in oil.
Oh, and this is a picture of my grand-daughter Molly with her American Girl Molly doll. I thought a "double portrait", so to speak, would be a good exercise!
Keep you posted!
My fine art website is South Mountain Sketchbook.

"Gardenia Trio" is Richeson-75 "Still Life 2013" finalist.

"Gardenia Trio", Egg tempera, oil, 12x12"

Yesterday I received another wonderful news. My painting "Gardenia Trio" was selected

as finalist of Richeson-75 "Still Life and Floral" 2013 competition/exhibition.

This painting will be featured an online show opening at April 3 2013

on Richeson web site. I will be posting link to it when show will be up and running.

"Gardenias" and two my other entries what made it in meritorious category will be also published

in Richeson-75 "Still Life 2013" full color edition.

Finally, the same Gardenia painting will be represented starting from February 25-th

in Salmagundi Club, NYC, as part of their annual juried members only Floral Exhibition.

This show also will be available to see online and I'll post links to that one as well.

Not sure if I'll be able to go and see it in person, but it is a great to have my art work shown there.

www.TatianaMyersFineArt.com

http://TatianaMyersFineArt.blogspot.com

"Gardenia Trio." by Tatiana Myers. Finished!

"Gardenia Trio"

12 x 12" Egg Tempera and Oil on panel.

Finally finished this painting... happy. And looking forward to start something new.

With questions about paintings e-mail me at TanyaOfOz@aol.com .

To see more of my works visit my web site:

http://www.TatianaMyersFineArt.com/

http://www.TatianaMyersFineArt.blogspot.com/

"Gardenias Trio" Egg Tempera and Oil WIP by Tatiana Myers

I finished my egg tempera underpainting. As normally I could continue with it forever, but I feel it will be reasonable to stop now and after it dries let oils to finish a job and get all the glory! 

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...to be continued.....

With questions about paintings e-mail me at TanyaOfOz@aol.com .

To see more of my works visit my web site:

http://www.TatianaMyersFineArt.com/

http://www.TatianaMyersFineArt.blogspot.com/

Gardenia Trio. WIP by Tatiana Myers Back to painting.

After finishing with all projects that had to be finished for one of another reason, I'm back to my Gardenias. I'm getting close with finishing of initial tempera underpainting. This is the most time consuming and complicated part of this work what has to be perfect. When I'm finished with tempera I'll switch to oils and it will be much easier.

I'll be posting significant updates as I go.

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...to be continued.....

With questions about paintings e-mail me at TanyaOfOz@aol.com .

To see more of my works visit my web site:

http://www.TatianaMyersFineArt.com/

http://www.TatianaMyersFineArt.blogspot.com/

"Kiwi Plate" Egg Temepra and Oil WIP by Tatiana Myers. Finished touch!

"Kiwi Plate" Egg Tempera and Oil

11 x 14" Ampersand Claybord.

This night After playing some more with this painting, I had to convince myself that it IS finished. Of course nothing is ever easy... and as soon I talked myself into "I'm done with it" mood, my desk-lamp dropped down from the shelf, turned over all my brushes and open bottle with solvent. Liquid went all over place, it was scary... but as far i could see - no single drop went on freshly finished painting what was sitting in the middle of the same very desk.... I can consider this no less, but a miracle a definite sign that it is a time to live it along. I'm going to let it dry. Then I will have to go with painting medium all over one more time (just a medium, no paint!). this way I'll make sure that all tempera paint is covered with oil medium and when it will be time to varnish it - varnish will go on evenly... Otherwise I'm done and going back to those Gardenias.

With questions about paintings e-mail me at TanyaOfOz@aol.com .

To see more of my works visit my web site:

http://www.TatianaMyersFineArt.com/

http://www.TatianaMyersFineArt.blogspot.com/

While kiwi was drying... "Gardenia Trio" WIP.

This is second long-term painting I'm working on at the same time I'm finishing my "Kiwi". This will be a combination of Tempera/Oil as well, but simplified to value-scale underpainting in tempera over-painted with color in oils. I wanted to do nice painting of white gardenias for some time, but couldn't find one I would want to paint... till the end of this summer, when it happened during one of our visits to Longwood Gardens.

This also would be a first time when I'm working on so called "True Gesso" hand-made panels involving some rabbit glue and marble dust... wonderful panels for tempera work. This is a best support by far, what I tried and I love to work on it... makes all the difference in the world!..

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...to be continued.....

With questions about paintings e-mail me at TanyaOfOz@aol.com .

To see more of my works visit my web site:
http://www.TatianaMyersFineArt.com/
http://www.TatianaMyersFineArt.blogspot.com/

Finishing of kiwi underpainting by Tatiana Myers

I feel that I finished working on underpainting for this kiwi. This photo can do only partial judgment to what it look like now, it does appear more neutral, but yes - you can still see all primary color glazes.

I have to stop now and let it dry for a few days. Then I'll be back to it with local color (oil). However, if extra correction will be needed, I always can bring back some more tempera. Not sure if it will be needed.

Now I better get busy with something else and forget about it. It is a part of the game.

*********************************

...to be continued.....

With questions about paintings e-mail me at TanyaOfOz@aol.com .

To see more of my works visit my web site:
http://www.TatianaMyersFineArt.com/
http://www.TatianaMyersFineArt.blogspot.com/

Still life with Kiwi. Second stage of tempera. WIP by Tatiana Myers

Some updates on my latest Still Life...

After first layer of white tempera was dry I carefully worked over it some amount of yellow oil paint  with just a hint of white added to it. This stage has to be done by hand (literally!) and I can say it was fun experience. End result of it you can see below. In a few days, when yellow paint was mostly dry, I started working with white tempera over it. this time it was much more easy compare to the first stage of tempera. I'm pretty sure amount of medium I used for the second stage was more correct and changed everything making things simpler... What was great. After this second stage was finished, I partially lost some value in few places of painting, but I'll work on it when it will be time for local color. Now however it is time for more drying and then I will have to repeat all over again with blue oil and white tempera. Sounds like fun!...

To be continued...

Still Life WIP by Tatiana Myers. Mische technique. First stage of tempera is finished.

Today I fished my first stage of  white tempera and this is mostly what i wanted to see... no I have to let it along for a few days and let it dry. After that I'm going to apply another veil  of Oil Paint. This time it will be yellow. Painting will have to dry again and then I'll have to refresh all lights with more of tempera. Veil of blue will be to follow and mote of tempera... It will finish my value work for this painting and then it will be time for color... I do need a lot of paitience to keep up with this routine, but fortunately while this one will dry I may as well start paint another something...   Perhaps not that complicated. 

With questions about paintings e-mail me at TanyaOfOz@aol.com .
To see more of my works visit my web site:
http://www.TatianaMyersFineArt.com/
http://www.TatianaMyersFineArt.blogspot.com/ 

Still Life WIP by Tatiana Myers. Starting with tempera.

 

I think I mentioned before, but if I didn't, this will be a good time to do so, that this is going to be very unusual and most complicated piece I have even done. If everything works out (what I hope it should) painting will result some very interesting  illusion created by glow of optical grays... Very beautiful effect indeed and so far I only tried it once.

Now I have my ink drawing sealed with imprimatura (crimson red oil) and starting with first stage of  tempera.

I only will use white paint this time, building it up to 3-D appearance, and using crimson-red as my darkest dark. Somewhat complicated process what I may compare to working with scratchboard - live the darks and put highlights one. It will keep me busy for a while and when I'm finished with this I'll be back with another update.

With questions about paintings e-mail me at TanyaOfOz@aol.com .
To see more of my works visit my web site:
http://www.TatianaMyersFineArt.com/
http://www.TatianaMyersFineArt.blogspot.com/ 

New Still Life by Tatiana Myers. Update.

This morning (thank you to all bad weather!) I finished working with ink and sealed it with oil paint. Because it is very fresh and giving too many reflections, I'll wait with posting of photos of that stage and simply will post a photo of final ink stage. So far I'm all right with it, but now it is going to get harder... Claybord is not my favorite surface for this kind of paintings, but I hope to make it work.

With questions about paintings e-mail me at TanyaOfOz@aol.com .
To see more of my works visit my web site:
http://www.TatianaMyersFineArt.com/
http://www.TatianaMyersFineArt.blogspot.com/ 

New Still Life project by Tatiana Myers.

After few days of thinking what would be my next long-term project, I finally have one chosen. It will be another combination of egg tempera with traditional oil. Mean while I have some work to do on underpainting, what is a black/white stage of watercolor-like painting with india ink diluted with some water. I'll be posting some updates as I go and working at some less complicated paintings at the same time. With me some luck and a lot of patience!... I will need both! 

With questions about paintings e-mail me at TanyaOfOz@aol.com .
To see more of my works visit my web site:
http://www.TatianaMyersFineArt.com/
http://www.TatianaMyersFineArt.blogspot.com/ 

"Into The Light" Egg tempera and Oil WIP by Tatiana Myers.

"Into The Light".  Egg Tempera & Oil,  9x 12" WIP.

With all latest events we had here (storms, power outages etc.) I had lesser time to paint, compare to what I would have in the perfect word. Still - I'm moving with this painting to where I want it to be and this is a good feeling. Work is still not finished, but it gives me right impression, therefore I'm happy. I think my next update on it will be my final one; and yes, I finally came up with the name for my painting, what reflects whole idea of it. 

It now called "Into the Light".

With questions about paintings e-mail me at TanyaOfOz@aol.com .
To see more of my works visit my web site:
http://www.TatianaMyersFineArt.com/
http://www.TatianaMyersFineArt.blogspot.com/

Cymbidium. Egg Tempera & Oil 9x 12" WIP.

 Cymbidium.  Egg Tempera & Oil 9x 12" WIP.

I came to the situation of being in need to have several finished works what will not require any glazing. Yes, those are future show works and fact of "no glass is needed" will make shipping much less stressful. I do not do acrylics, so my options are tempera and oils. After I finished with my "Orchids in Ruby" I started another Orchid painting, but this time it will be combination of oils with egg tempera. It is a slow process what is done in a few stages. I started from transferring of my drawing to Claybord on imprinting outlines with India Ink. Then I proceeded with Egg Tempera underpainting in gray scale. After that was done I had to put first (most complicated) sealing layer of oils to cover up tempera underpainting before starting with multi-layer oil stage. So far so good, but now it has to dry for a few days before I can continue. Most of fun is just starting, meanwhile I'm returning to work on my pastel, what naturally doesn't have to dry and will be perfect "fill in" in between oil painting sessions.

Above - finished tempera stage.

Above - first layer of oils.

With questions about paintings e-mail me at TanyaOfOz@aol.com .
To see more of my works visit my web site:
http://www.TatianaMyersFineArt.com/
http://www.TatianaMyersFineArt.blogspot.com/

"Royal Purple" Egg tempera WIP by Tatiana Myers.

"Royal Purple" by Tatiana Myers

14 x 11".  Egg Tempera and ink on Aquaboard.

Just a last touch up and now I may call it finished!

With questions about paintings e-mail me at TanyaOfOz@aol.com .
To see more of my works visit my web site:
http://www.TatianaMyersFineArt.com/
http://www.TatianaMyersFineArt.blogspot.com/

"Royal Purple" Egg tempre WIP by Tatiana Myers.

"Royal Purple" by Tatiana Myers

14 x 11".  Egg Tempera and ink on Aquaboard.

This and that... meanwhile I'm slowly finishing that very clematis.  I'm  suspecting that it will only need one more good painting session to be finished... But not tonight... perhaps not even tomorrow. This is how it is looking on my working table, even some pigments are around.
Sorry, but precious egg medium already went in my refrigerator! 

With questions about paintings e-mail me at TanyaOfOz@aol.com .
To see more of my works visit my web site:
http://www.TatianaMyersFineArt.com/
http://www.TatianaMyersFineArt.blogspot.com/

"Royal Purple" Egg Tempera WIP by Tatiana Myers.

"Royal Purple" by Tatiana Myers

14 x 11".  Egg Tempera and ink on Aquaboard.

After I painted my Oil Pastel "Blue Clematis", I always had wish to do some more of those flowers... Finally I'm giving it a try and this one will be Purple Clematis in egg tempera. I'm using for support Ampersand Aquabord (what is a textured Claybord). I'm not sure yet, how I like this surface, normally I would work on something smooth. This painting  is challenging anything and anything, but boring. 

With questions about paintings e-mail me at TanyaOfOz@aol.com .
To see more of my works visit my web site:
http://www.TatianaMyersFineArt.com/
http://www.TatianaMyersFineArt.blogspot.com/

MPSGS show entry by Tatiana Myers (Egg Tempera miniature)

Quoted from http://www.facebook.com/pages/Fine-Art-of-Tatiana-Myers/149304765102114:

 Fine Art of Tatiana Myers. | Facebook 

 I just found out that my egg tempera miniature "Autumn Road" was accepted into 77th Annual International Exhibition of Fine Art in Miniature of The Miniature Painters, Sculptors & Gravers Society of Washington, D.C. (MPSGS)
This is my first year of showing with MPSGS, it is second biggest International show for miniature paintings in United States after MASF show in FL. It is a wonderful and exiting news. I hope we can make it to DC and see the opening of exhibition in November.

"Autumn Road" by Tatiana Myers
 2.5 x 3.5", Egg Tempera on Vellum 
 

With questions about my art work e-mail me at TanyaOfOz@aol.com .

To see more of my paintings visit my web site:
http://www.TatianaMyersFineArt.com/
http://TatianaMyersFineArt.blogspot.com 

 

Egg Tempera Demonstration for Franklin County Art Alliance.

Tatiana K Myers with

Egg Tempera Demonstration

at Franklin County Art Alliance .

This evening I went to Chambersburg, PA to do the demonstration of work with egg tempera and oil pastels. It was great experience, friendly auditory and lots of people. Some of them even tried tempera before!

It was great event and I want to tell "Thank You!" to everybody who attended this demonstration. You, guys are wonderful and did everything to make my own job easy.

I'm looking forward to be back at Chambersburg this fall for another juried exhibition of miniature art where I'm planning to enter some of my newest paintings.

With questions about my paintings e-mail me at TanyaOfOz@aol.com .
To see more of my works visit my web site:
http://www.TatianaMyersFineArt.com/
http://www.TatianaMyersFineArt.blogspot.com/