Saints And Bricks

Progress.... Bit by Bit...

I hope you can forgive the Garish lighting and the awkward perspective, Dear Readers, but I have been working on painting the Saints on the Castle Hall ceiling and I wanted you to be able to see what it currently looks like when in place in the Hall. This is no easy task at the best of times... requiring one to get down on ones Knees and crane the neck upward at an awkward angle... and Hope or even Pray that the view in the camera lens is properly aligned! And at this time of year when it is Almost Always too dark... it is nearly impossible to get the lighting right. I have moments when I am wondering why I am taking so much trouble with painting the details on the ceiling.... but then I see it in place and I know it will eventually look the way I am imagining.... so I keep painting! I am keenly aware that it is becoming an amalgam of eras and styles, because I am trying to copy actual Medieval Images of the Saints... and it is nearly impossible to find ones all of the correct vintage to copy. Several of the images I am using are Stylistically later than the date set for my Castle. But I am allowing for "Artistic license" rather than period authenticity.

I left you last week with several Saints just in the beginning stages of painting...

I tend to get completely absorbed in the painting process and forget to take pictures until the end of the day... and I jump around a lot from one Saint to another..... 

so you will see only slight changes on some and big changes on another. 

Here above, you can see I have painted part of John's robes and most of the Eagle.....

And below you can see I have added much of the black linear details...

Another just begun Saint was Saint Luke...

He is the Patron Saint of painters... 

so he is shown working on painting....

Above you can see I have added most of his facial details....

Here is a closer shot....

And I also started on Saint Matthew....

I gave myself an additional challenge with Matthew..... 

I chose an image that I only have in a black and white photo...

because I really liked his expression and the linear style of his clothes....

But I am left having to invent all the color details!!!

We shall see whether I end up having any success with his robes....

I have made a start!

And lest you wonder what I was referring to in the "Bricks" part of my title...

I also chipped away at the bricks for the Conservatory archway!

I seem to recall that Last year on New Year's Eve 

I was making bricks for the Folly Chimney....

This year I got the arch section done on New Year's Eve....

And then diligently worked at the remaining bricks....

Attaching a row at a time...

in between painting Saints.

Mostly I forgot to do the bricks...

And kept on starting New Saints!

This is Saint Nicholas....

I forgot to take pictures of his beginnings....

And likewise for Saint Lucy....

there are many details for her still to do...

And here is another view with four of the Saints together....

The ceiling is still not attached in the Castle... 

so I am able to do the painting from a reasonable angle....

And I have nearly finished the bricks too....

Here you can sort of see it in place....

sticking up above the roofline.....

(The beautiful wreath is a gift from Birgit!)

And here is a view from inside...

I am really loving the egg carton color of the bricks here!

I still have to finish the top of the Chimney and then do the grout....

So it is still a ways from done.

As for the Saints....

Some more details on Saint Amand....

The details on his Crozier, shoes, hands and pen....

Amongst others too numerous to specify!

And some more on Saint Luke.....

Painting the Artist... 

Painting the Painting....

The more you do....

the more you see still to do!

But Bit by bit... Dear Readers,

I'm making Progress on the Saints and Bricks!