Watch egg tempera paintings in progess - The Creative Journey of an Artist

July 2, 2009 Now that the painting is finished (see below), I have to go through the process of readying it to be copied onto canvas prints and tile. This takes me several weeks of proofing and tweaking color.

Its a beautiful morning at my Colorado studio. The sunflowers are just starting to bloom and the farmer has baled the hay. you can see the Flat Irons Mountains (Rockies) in Boulder in the background. Here are a couple of pictures that I took this morning from my studio.

click pictures to see larger images

Here is how my latest painting was created
June 22, 2009 The painting is finished and is at the photographers for its professional beauty shot. When it is ready, it will be for sale here. Now that the painting is done I have to start work on the frame. I am making a custom frame finished in the same materials I used in the painting and painted to matching the wall in the artwork. Its also time to clean my studio which is another thing I do when I have finished a painting

June 10 , 2009 This artwork is really starting to move together as a cohesive piece now. The colors I am using are the "in colors" for 2009. Even though I use natural pigments to make my egg tempera paint, I can blend and layer them to create any color I envision. You can decorate and inspire an entire room just from using the colors in this painting. See my guide for paint color ideas for 2009

As an artist I am profoundly influenced by color and culture. I love studying color trends and am always trying to predict and influence color. Color trends are fascinating because they are a sociological barometer of the desires going on in our culture right now. The buzz words in color right now are vibrant, bold, optimistic and comforting. This artwork will reflect these colors.

June 2 2009 I am working on the grapes and leaves that surround the window. I work from light to dark (the opposite of an oil painting) so the leaves start out yellow, then I layer spice colors of oranges and golds, and finally the greens. Then I take off some off the top color to reveal the light underneath ( I like complex layered color). Finally I will deepen some areas to make the colors pop. I still have not decided whether I will darken the background behind the grapes. Painting is a journey that only creates magic when you go with the flow and let it draw you in a direction

May 26, 2009
I have developed the vineyard landscape to the point that I can start painting the sculpted grapes and leaves around the window. I still have more work to do on it though. I really love the colors of a vineyard in fall, so I will carry that theme throughout the artwork. I plan to paint the grapes in shades of amethyst purple, green and raspberry merlot and the leaves in both green and turning leaf fall colors

May 14, 2009 I have started to work on the background landscape of the painting and have added a bit of color to the sculpted grapes around the window. I am creating terraced vineyards and a road leading to the fields. Should I add some sheep in the field, we'll see.

May 4 2009 The painting part begins! I am starting to lay down my base color. Even though this is not a very pretty stage of the artwork, its very important because the base colors I start with set the mood and direct the color palette that I choose for subsequent layers. I speak of layers because an egg tempera painting is layer upon layer of thin color washes. It is the exact opposite of a oil painting created with thick color and a palette knife. By sculpting the artwork first in bas-relief, I add incredible texture and a tactile element to the painting

Click image to see larger picture

April 26, 2009 This week I have been working on sculpting the bas-relief grapes and vines. Sculpting is always slow, but lots of fun

April 17, 2009 Its time to start a new painting. I want to play off the artwork that I just finished Angels in the Vines. I want to have a similar window, but I want it surrounded by grapevines, with a view of a vineyard in the background. So I have started a sketch

Watch this page to see this painting develop

see all original paintings by artist Linda Paul

Want to tell me what you think of the new painting? email Linda

About these original works of art
American Artist Linda Paul uses natural crushed stone & earth mixed with a bit of water and egg yolk to make her paint. Blues come from crushed lapis lazuli, greens from malachite & natural green earth found around Verona Italy. She uses fascinating colors which have been "lost" for hundreds of years and new colors which she has discovered in the Rocky Mountains. Her earth ochres come from the ancient open pit mines of Rousillon France. Her artwork is both beautiful and luminous. These Paintings will last for centuries! Read more and see pictures!

Sculpted Bas-Relief:
Works in the bas-relief series combine egg tempera painting with bas-relief sculpture. The works are incredibly textural and engage the viewer in a tactile as well as a visual experience. Her secret plaster recipe is applied to a cradled board, then each element is individually sculpted in relief of up to ½”. When the sculpting is finished, the egg tempera painting begins.

Why Buy Original art? Some people may ask, "why buy original art when you can buy a nice print". Several reasons, simply put, the original is just far more beautiful. Its also one of a kind. This beauty does not translate as well in the digital world. Another reason is that the original captures the soul of the artist, what the artist is feeling when they are creating the piece can tangibly be felt in an original artwork. Of course the original is far more valuable and usually increases in value. You should buy original art because you love it! It will enrich your life.

Artist owns the copyright of all artworks displayed in this online art gallery. Use of artwork is prohibited without written permission from the artist.