I forgot to post my recent picture of Pippi…
This is based on a photograph, from which I made an outline drawing that I transferred to a wood block prepared with gesso, and then had at it with the acrylics. Here are the photo and drawing for comparison…
Here’s a picture I painted of Stella, my sister’s dog that sadly died last year (she was pretty old for a dog, I think – thirteen?) The picture is on a wooden block 15cm square.
A nine-tailed fox spirit, a detail copied from Hokusai’s Great Picture Book of Everything and painted in colour (within my limitations)*. These Kitsune or fox spirits feature in Japanese, Chinese, and Korean mythology under different names. The more tails they have, the wiser and more powerful they get. They are able to turn themselves into foxy young human ladies in order to devour unsuspecting young men, but they may also be beneficent and bring good fortune.
In Hokusai’s original, this one is being conjured up by Fumei Chōja, aka the virtuous Indian King Sutasoma.
*In fact it appears that when they get nine tails they turn white: but I’m not repainting!
Painted by me. There’s a tiny bit of reflection from the glass, I’m afraid.
I painted some little flower pots for Mum’s birthday (shh – it’s still a few days away!). Light sanding, coat of gesso and away we go. The artistry is not great, but it’s a few years since I gave her anything home-made for her birthday. (Don’t worry, I have got some other items!)
Seen and Done 