Mermaid 28"x40"

[rcollege]

Hi all

This is a piece I did about 5 years ago.
Its been displayed in full sun, but mainly in bright indirect sun for over a year. Color wise the Fabers have held up extremely well!


The Mermaid
28"x40"
Faber- Castell Polychromos all colors used has *** lightfastness rating
Hand Gessoed Harbaord
4-5 coats of Kamar varnish

[rasberry]

looks gorgeous i love the hair the whole piece has a nice flowy feeling to it
Naomi

[aszurblue]

Good Job Roger!!! Looks very under the sea. Beautiful Mermaid. I too love my Faber's.. Azure

[chocolatyclaire]

This is probably a silly question - but why do you use varnish? It is something a lot of people do? Its probably just me who's never heard of it!

[rcollege]

Thanks Azure and Naomi! comments are appreciated.

Thanks for the question Claire,

Its not a silly question at all.
I use the kamar varnish rather than using glass.
This Piece is on gessoed hardboard attached to an oak frame that is flush with the picture. No glass is needed on this piece and the Kamar does great for protection.
Kamar is probably one of the few I'd use as it is made for artwork...please don't confuse this with spray varathane...which I use for pieces done directly on walls... or wood varnish.
Hope this helps clarify things.

[TessDB]

Roger--

love the hair. And you have definitely captured an underwater feel. Thanks for posting that detail shot of her face. There's a texture to it... is that from the board, gesso application, or the varnish? I really like how it adds to the sense of water.

Lovely lovely work.

Tess

[rcollege]

Thank you Tess!

The texture is from the gesso on the board...I gave three coats, sanding between each one...
Also the texture you see is from the pencil strokes- loose and free...I do these strokes in the direction I'd like the eye to move and to show movement in what would otherwise be static.

[Fozbot]

Roger, your mermaid is wonderful. her hair flowing out from her head and the motion you created with the seaweed works beautifully! i definitely get the feel of a gentle underwater current happening here.

[brushstroke]

Hi Roger. I really like this, I love the softness and flow. A truly beautiful painting! (and I say that as a 'leg man'.)

Barry.

[rcollege]

Thank you Billie and Barry!

Billie, great to hear from you again!