Henry Catenacci

OLDER POSTS

Here is the underdrawing for a new painting…

Il letto dei viole (Bed of Violets)

Work in Progress, Underdrawing (Graphite)

Oil on Panel

12 in. x 12 in.

March 30, 2024

First underpainting. …

Il letto dei viole (Bed of Violets)

Work in Progress, First Underpainting

Oil on Panel

12 in. x 12 in.

May 4, 2024

Second underpainting finished. …

Il letto dei viole (Bed of Violets)

Work in Progress, Second Underpainting

Oil on Panel

12 in. x 12 in.

May 26, 2024

Underdrawing for a new painting…

Le nove muse (The Nine Muses)

Work in Progress, Underdrawing (Graphite)

Oil on Panel

16 in. x 12 in.

June 23, 2024

Continuing work on this painting. Here is the grisaille layer finished. I added a tiny bit of Prussian blue when mixing the gray tones of the grisaille, which will give the finished painting an underlying cold glow, like moonlight. On to color glazes next!

Il letto dei viole (Bed of Violets)

Work in Progress, Grisaille

Oil on Panel

12 in. x 12 in.

August 1, 2024

First color layer is complete — and still pale, especially in the foreground. These are semi-transparent glazes. Once this layer has dried, I’ll add brighter, transparent glazes, and then a few white highlights to finish. Limiting the palette, I came up with the blues of the butterflies by mixing together the purples and greens I used for the flowers and leaves. (Yes, mixing purple and green will make blue!) Painting the hand last, I used most of the colors in the palette that I used for the other images, mixing them in such a way to create skin tones. Although this isn’t immediately apparent, it will subliminally tie the entire painting together.

Il letto dei viole (Bed of Violets)

Work in Progress, First Color

Oil on Panel

12 in. x 12 in.