And Then.... Again....

 

 The Chapel Frescoes Continued....

I Suppose, Dear Readers, that the Saints on the Chapel Ceiling are even more patient than those on The Great Hall ceiling, having been begun in 2011 and not touched since then! I had started to show you my careful progress last week, but blogger refused to load my pictures half way through my blog, so I didn't get to show you much at all! I was feeling nervous about painting the details after so many years and so I started very carefully, adding just the base color to all the angels' gowns..... a pale cream color.

And just the beginning of the fabric fold shadows

 on the smallest angel in the lower left corner...

You might need to poke the pictures to see them at all!

But I quickly gained my courage

 and forged ahead with the other angels too...

 

The manuscript I am using for my inspiration

 has the gown folds highlighted boldly in red...

And Saint Michael's cloak was blue in the original, 

but I made it purple to contrast with the background.

And before I knew it I was adding details everywhere... 

demons and angels alike...

There is even a "blue devil" which I faithfully

 copied from the twelfth century manuscript.

When it came to the Winged serpent or Dragon, 

I deviated from the original quite a bit.

The original is done in tan with blue wings.

For the purposes of this ceiling and composition,

 I decided to make it a more traditional 

green and brown combination.

 

And since I am making it up as I go...

It takes longer. 

I am not as sure of what I want it to look like. 

So I find myself jumping from one figure to another.... 

while the paint is drying, of course...

And while I am deciding whether or not it looks right.

Michael's cloak has stars added... 

here just under-painted with white.

 They will be iridescent gold when done.

But if you don't start with white, 

the gold will not show!

And I finally got the courage to paint the faces....

I started with the littlest one again.... 

but neglected to take progress pictures!

And details details details.... 

the angels weapons... the wings... 

the demons' faces and hairy hides...

But if you look closely, Dear Readers, 

you will see the faint pencil outlines of the Creation scenes

 taking shape in the empty quadrant!

And the inking process underway!

The humidity of the summer air

 makes the ink dry very slowly.

I have to wait about 24 hours after inking 

 before I touch them with anything.

Adding the gold base coats....

At the right angle you can see the gleam....

And if you know me at all, Dear Readers,

 you will know I love that blue.....

Oh, how I wanted to see how it would look!

And starting the inking process...

And beginning to paint!

For the models, I have spent hours reviewing

 my Medieval Manuscripts collection.

There are many versions of the Creation... 

but they all rely on the same original text of the Genesis story.

Six days of Creation... and they are,

 more often than not, pictured in "roundels".

 

Gold has been added to the stars!

I am combining and adapting the many images into my own version.

This is, after all, Just the Beginning!

 

 

And as you might imagine, Dear Readers,

I am testing the effect in the Chapel 

again and again...

Oh, It feels so Wonderful

 To be painting the Chapel Frescoes Again!