“At the Louvre”, detail after Degas

Though I don’t attend Hill Country Bible Church, I’m blessed to be on their “Prayer and Creativity” team. Their quarterly exhibits give me a chance to attempt some serious art once in a while. 

I stress *attempt*. 

The first exhibit of the year doesn’t have a particular theme but gives all the artists on the team a chance to show any art project they’ve done in the last year.

 I’m entering a piece I painted inspired by Degas’ “At the Louvre”. I painted a detail of it using my book of Degas prints as a reference, shown here below.

 I *LOVE* this painting. 

I love that it’s one artist drawing another (in this instance it’s Degas drawing Mary Cassatt). 

I love the 1800s ladies’ walking suit Cassatt is wearing. 

 I love that it shows an artist admiring the work of other artists!

First I drew it in pencil.

Lots of tricky lines in this thing! 

I traced my drawing onto tracing paper (for the transfer), and then made a copy of it.

I used my pastel pencils and colored it like a coloring page.  Sometimes I do this to familiarize myself with the shading before I start painting.

I checked it beside the book off and on to see if I was on the right track.

Some of the angles were off, but I decided it was close enough to move on.

I prepped my board with gesso, transferred the image, and started blocking in some areas.

I had it on my kitchen island for almost a month, working a little on it in the evenings. 

And here it is. It’s definitely an improvement on the first painting I entered. haha!

Improvement!! It’s a good thing. 🙂

6 Comments

  1. OH WOW, Scarlett this is absolutely gorgeous!!!

    What amazing talent you have been blessed with, and how awesome that I can share in it by seeing your beautiful works here on your blog from across the globe!!! I so appreaciate it!

    I love Victorian ladies myself, and this painting and the original are fabulous!

  2. This looks fabulous!!!! You are such a good artist!!!

  3. Boxing Day is I think similar to Black Friday over there in America? Only its the day after Christmas! Lots of sales etc. 😉

  4. jeana Boatright

    The only thing better than this would be to go to the Louvre with you for about
    a month! Thanks for sharing the details and the process !

  5. Melanie Keel

    Scarlett once again you have done it, impressed your Aunt Melanie so much. Hope it’s alright how much I brag about you because your work just keeps getting better and better!! I am blown away that you can do that, take that beautiful piece of artwork and make it your own. It’s just incredible how authentic you made your replica look, looks just as good as the artist who painted it does. I can’t wait for the day when one of your pieces of work is discovered then it all will be discovered, and you will be famous and someone will be copying something of yours down the years….Then some bragging over my precious little niece will be even more fun!!!!!!! Love you honey, hope you can tell I’m kind of proud of the beautiful PERSON you always have been, and are becoming so much more of. Proud Proud Proud of you!!

  6. Stunning!!
    I just love it :))
    Happy New Year… creative friend!

    xo
    Kay Ellen

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