Verdaccio

Hey world,
I'd like to introduce you to "Cupid and Psyche, as Children." I'm nearly done with the Verdaccio. I've logged about 40 hours on this painting so far, including the sketch beneath the paint.

I need to noodle a little to soften the edges and add highlights to Psyche's hair...

Why is my painting gray-green? This process is called verdaccio and is a mix of gray and green, and sometimes other pigments, that makes up the underpainting of a piece. I take the time to capture the values, meaning the lightness and darkness of a painting, in monochromatic form, so that when I add color the painting comes to life. Value is everything in a painting, especially in realism. DaVinci used it for the Mona Lisa, Michelangelo used it in the Sistine Chapel. THIS IS THE REAL DEAL PEOPLE. It may be slower, but it's systematic, it's analytical, it's beautiful, and (I think) it's better.

"Cupid and Psyche as Children" was originally done by William Bouguereau, a good name to keep in mind if you're ever name dropping. William Bouguereau is famous for the flesh work on his paintings as well as being the most prolific French painter of the 19th century. He loved Cupid and Psyche's story which you can read here, and depicted these lovers numerous times throughout his career. Incidentally, CS Lewis also loved this story, and near the end of his life wrote Till We Have Faces which tells the story of the Cupid and Psyche from the point of view of one of Psyche's sisters. It's a great book, I'm reading it now.

I chose this painting because Darin urged me to do a reproduction of a work of a master, and because I fell in love with this painting. I cropped it, actually, because I figured my roommates wouldn't appreciate me bringing home a painting of naked angels. Even if it is fine art. You can google the original. Kelly, another painter at the studio, and I have been absolutely giddy over our paintings. At times, we roll away from our work (our chairs have wheels) and take in the view from the highway. We realize that our paintings look pretty darn good.

I look forward to these hours all week.

Love // Christelle

Christelle Paints

Hey! I'm glad you're here. I'm excited to share a piece of me with you. Michelangelo and daVinci both had art journals. If they lived in the 21st century, they would have had art blogs. Maybe. daVinci said,

"Those who become enamoured of the practice of art, without having previously applied to the diligent study of the scientific part of it, may be compared to mariners, who put to sea in a ship without rudder or compass, and therefore cannot be certain of arriving at the wished-for port. Practice must always be founded on good theory..."

Darin Ashby is teaching and mentoring me in classical academic oil painting. This is a huge deal because I'm learning the theory, the science, and the art of painting the way the masters did centuries ago. No one is doing classical art, and they really honestly should be. I've always wanted to find my passion, and I know I've found it. Last Saturday Kelly, Rosemary, Darin and I painted from 9 am - midnight. Darin said, "anyone with the desire to learn this can do this, but I'm afraid you're addicted." 

I'm afraid he's right.

I met Darin after a friend's family dinner one day. My friend Matt and I were spending the summer working in Sandy for Crowdfund Capital Advisors, for the two thought leaders on crowdfunding. Matt has an cousin in South Jordan who invited us over for dinner. Matt's cousin told us that her daughter Cassie was taking painting lessons from a man in South Jordan and invited us to come. All I could think about was all the things I had left to do, but Matt seemed excited about it, and I figured an extra half hour wouldn't hurt. 

We drive up to this beautiful home in this cul-de-sac that overlooks the Utah mountain ranges, and as soon as we walk in his house we see classical pieces, fit for a museum. At the same time, this house is very clearly a home, with sketches and pictures of the children, and of the whole family. Darin is a father to four beautiful, talented girls, and that becomes very evident as you take in scattered pink tops and brightly covered blankets that could have only been left behind by his children. We walk downstairs into his studio and I see a painting of the candlestick scene of Les Miserables in verdaccio. I see a seven foot tall work in progress of Christ. I see a reproduction of a Rembrandt in the back corner. Two girls are working on their first painting in the middle of the studio. But what really impressed me was Darin. He was so welcoming, and introduced us to the craft--the techniques, the history. He was ever patient to my constant stream of questions. 

I think to myself, wow, I have to be a part of this. 

Here I am, six months later, halfway (read: 30 hours) into my first painting. Here's a preview of the verdaccio:

A year, five years, ten years down the road I'll look back to this first entry, and hopefully realize how much I've grown and how much my craft has developed. 

Love // Christelle