Next up: Ophelia

[painterx@hotmail.com]

Moving on to my next painting which I will begin painting this week. The subject is "Ophelia" from Hamlet. A troubled character from the play by Shakespeare whom many artists have attempted to capture on canvas. Probably the best known effort (and the best overall effort) is the masterpiece by Sir John Everett Millais, a member of the Brotherhood of the Pre-Raphealites. IMO, no one has surpassed his painting in beauty, pathos and technical skill. His Ophelia not only captures the character's heart, but her soul as well. So I attempt mine with reservations in knowing it won't surpass the painting by Millias, let alone match it. Still, Ophelia's story captures many of the elements that I am drawn to as an artist. After years of playing with ideas I decided on this one.

Here's the cartoon drawing I did in preparation for the painting.

click image for full size

[painterx@hotmail.com]

After the drawing was finished (about sixty hours in seven days) I took a photo of it with my DSRL. That image was then printed out the same size of the drawing (26x28). This print was then adhered onto hardboard (aka Masonite). I first covered both sides of the board with gesso and then adhered the drawing. First, the drawing was whetted down and allowed to dry to a slightly damp state. This allows the paper to expand and then relax before being mounted on the board. After five minutes or so, I coat the back side of the damp drawing with acrylic matte medium and apply some as well to the surface of the board. I then carefully place the drawing on the board and roll out the bubbles with a six inch hard rubber print ink roller. I'll apply two to three more layers of acrylic matte mediums after each application dries. Once completely dry I'll trim any excess paper along the edges (due to the paper expanding when wet) and then give the surface a sanding with a fine grit sandpaper to aid in adhesion of my oil paints.

This is the result, sitting on an easel in my studio.

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[painterx@hotmail.com]

Usually I paint indirectly and glaze my paintings in many layers. For Ophelia I'll primarily be painting directly and will glaze in a few places as the painting gets down to it's final stages. I decided to do this because I thought it would best suit the the look of the landscape. So here I've decided to take the approached utilized by John Williams Waterhouse, than the approach normally used by the Pre-Raphealite painters, who I dearly admire.

[Singular]

Love the drawing. Can't wait to see how you bring this to life.

[painterx@hotmail.com]

Thanks, me too.

[www-ksart-se]

Thanks for sharing! It's so fun and inspiring to see all the different approaches and techniques people use!
Looking good! =o)

[painterx@hotmail.com]

After a few fits and starts finally get paint down.

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[painterx@hotmail.com]

As it's looking now. Hope to have this done in two weeks. It will be close.

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[Singular]

Looks great. Excited to see more.

[painterx@hotmail.com]

Update. About 2/3 complete.

Most of the background is done save for the right-hand side. Blocked in tones and a few colors on the figure. Being Ophelia her dress should be white, but the brightest of the white will be quite toned down.

One week left to hopefully finish.

click image for full size

[painterx@hotmail.com]

Maybe a few tweaks, but this is pretty much done. I'll be showing it next week at an art show in Reading, PA.

"Ophelia" oils, 26x28 (c)2016

click image for full size

[Singular]

Really nice work, Joseph. Great job!

[painterx@hotmail.com]

Thank-you.