Last August portrait

twentyeighth

twentyninth

thirtieth

thirtyfirst

The last portrait of August is watercolour and I feel as if I was getting somewhere in the lower half, so will be practicing a little more. I'd like to use more vibrant colours but I will work up to that.

Now only two months left until I have a whole years worth of self-portraits.
Countdown begins ..... 61

Twenty 6

Aughh! the days are disappearing fast.
Last day at glass painting and it went so fast, by 11 o'clock I was finished and I wasn't the first.
So here are the backs.

Houses

coloured piece

I have had a sneak preview of course but thought I'd make you all wait until tomorrow to get the full effect of the image.





After painting it was into town and we went for food, wandered a little, and bought the bits and pieces we hadn't before. Time is running out.
It's been a little cooler the last few days but today in town was hot enough.

In the square they're preparing for the Medieval Festival, starting tomorrow.

stalls happening

part of the carnival

Last full day and we get a medieval fair, how good is that.

This evening it's been hanging out together, eating, snacks, wee drinks and films.
Off to go and join in.

key to the door day…21

Late, lazy morning, lovely.
Off to town today to see an exhibition by Bernardo Federico Neumann of part of his collection, 'Abstraccion Surrealista'. Lots of colours coming up.

The exhibition was in the council tower just off Piata Mara and a very narrow, steep climb to get to it. The images were on the 1st and 2nd floors and were indeed incredibly vibrant, although probably more so if they'd been the originals. Interesting work nonetheless.

Bernardo Neumann

Bernardo Neumann

Not easy to take photos as you can see because of the glass and the lighting but gives a impression of what they were like.






After viewing the art it was up lots more stairs to get to the top of the tower.

door to 2nd floor

Tiny wee door, very narrow space but hand rail all the way up, which I was very glad of. As we got nearer the top the floors were smaller and the heat rose quickly, couldn't stay very long but the views were incredible.

roof view from top

Piata Mare

Another pic of the houses with eyes, I prefer the look of the older ones, possibly due to the differing tile colours.


Down again, and what a pleasure to feel cooler each descent of steps. Outside, beside the tower ,an arched tunnel(short) had a gorgeous breeze blowing through so we stood there for a while.
Went for a bite to eat next… my veggie lasagne wasn't veggie, not great and no time to get it sent back for another. Luckily, Megan does eat meat and we swopped, I got her tomato soup which was lovely. Off to meet our lift to the cheese and brandy festival. Not too far from Sibiu.

Amazing view of the mountains. The festival itself was quite small but had a good feel about it. We wandered a little, had some help from Ioana and Leonardo to find the brandy. Hadn't realised it would be in little plastic bottles……. so, a few tastes were had, prices checked and we got a wee bottle to have one night (with juice) between us all.

cheese stalls

Day 18

Another morning…. the usual things happened, up, shower, breakfast, make packed lunch and off to walk to the pink house.
Glass awaits!

proper side

This is the point that I'd got to yesterday, The dark red bits were done then so that today I'll be able to paint straight over them with gold.

Yesterday's post showed the image on the painted side, today you get to view the proper side. (paint was dry enough to turn it around)







Today I really began to see a change, because so much of the fiddly bits were painted yesterday, it was on with the larger areas. RED, lots of it, some light, some dark and on it goes. Whew! feel like this is beginning to look ok.

red nearly done

Another day of wearing my glasses all the time, trying to get used to not looking through them when checking colours from the print.

Then I did a lot of green, then skin colour, and then……
I got to move onto the gold, boy does that change the image.
The gold is a powder that has linseed oil added then a colour if you want, I used Esme's left over gold and she'd added yellow and I preferred that tone.

At the end of the painting day my glass icon painting is looking like this.

painted side

proper side

Got back to the flat about 2.30pm, another short day but still feel tired after the concentration, possibly the smells of paint, linseed and diutent too.

So should be finished this tomorrow and we get to start one of our own design.

I'm thinking of making up a wee drawing with the old houses of Sibiu as their theme, the doors and eyes in the roof. So that is my next project.

finished commission

'Rhona and Luna'

Finally finished this painting, I really enjoyed doing it and learnt a lot. Spent a lot of time trying different ways of making Luna appear furry, successfully I believe.







Now to start a new painting!

I think it's time for a self-portrait. Something I've not done in a while.
I have a vague idea in my head of something that's slightly washed out, pale colours. Not quite there. A transition state, morphing from one thing to another.

dogs 'n' people

The new painting..... Just roughly done so far.

My first try at a dog.

some old artworks

This is of my friend's house in Devon, a wee sketch to leave behind.
The next is from college, one of my first lot of paintings.
Gave me loads of grief but I reckon I learned loads too.

I really enjoy portraiture but definately don't do enough.
College was better for discipline to complete and learn, Uni...
ah, yes... have to make myself do things.

More to be added later.