Hera, Protectress of Women

Repainted the blue background because the color was very uneven. Took advantage of that to remove some of the hair. Then spent most of the session refining the lily area.

Hera, Protectress of Women

Good brushes really do make a difference. For the past few years I have been using brushes I pick up at Michael's Craft Store. Mostly, I do this out of laziness; any decent art store is an hour away. Finally, I broke down and ordered brushes from Daniel Smith. Boy! I suddenly remembered how great a nice brush is. Any of you who try to cut an edge in a room with a cheap brush will understand this.
I'm working on the hair. I think there is still a bit too much around the top right of the head.

Hera, Protectress of Women

I've removed the golden halo, which I thought could act as a type of crown. I will add a gauze head cover and band. I'm procrastinating about the hair. I'm on the verge of making this too busy (or not busy enough). I'm afraid I've also lost the Art Nouveau motif.

Hera, Protectress of Women

Tomorrow I am going to remove the gold halo. Not sure how I will resolve that space. I may add a cloth head band and a head veil.

Hera, Protectress of Women

Bit of glare. Not to dispair. No need to repair. Must work on the hair.

Hera, Protectress of Women

The third symbol for Hera is the pomegranate which she shares with Persephone. She is often depicted holding the pomegranate but there is no reference in her myths to its significant. Ripening late in the year, the leathery-skinned pomegranate, so full of juicy seeds, is a marvelous image for a woman in her late years, her crone years. The deep red juice of this fruit was often likened to blood and in some areas of Greece, was designated as food for the dead, heightening this connection to her crone phase.Hera is the goddess of marriage, women, and birth, and the pomegranate is a symbol of marriage, marital love, and fruitfulness.
Hera's crown is either a diadem - a cloth headband signifying royalty; or a polos - a representation of the starry vault of heaven. I have put a white fleur-de-lis, but may change to or add stars since Hera is credited with forming the milky way from her breast milk.

Hera, Protectress of Women

I've decided to use a Greek style dress but render it gauze-like. I put in an indication of the drapery. I also refined some more of the lilies.

Hera, Protectress of Women

in Greek religion and mythology, queen of the Olympian gods, daughter of Kronos and Rhea. She was the wife and sister of Zeus and the mother of Ares and Hephaestus. A jealous wife, she fought constantly with Zeus and plagued his mistresses and children. She was the protectress of women, presiding over marriage and childbirth, and frequently punished offending husbands. A powerful divinity, Hera was worshiped in all parts of Greece, especially at Argos and Salmos, where she had splendid temples. She is usually represented as a majestic figure, fully draped, crowned with a wreath or diadem, and carrying a scepter. Frequently she is associated with the pomegranate, symbol of marital love and fruitfulness. The peacock was sacred to her. The Romans identified Hera with Juno.
I spent most of the day working skin tones. I'm going to drape the figure and add pomegranate and peacock eyes on the arch. I may or may not include a white veil.

Hera

My Muse has at last revealed herself, Hera. She is the Queen of Heaven, Queen of the Olympian dieties, and goddess of love and marriage. This seems the perfect subject to represent woman.
As you can see, I've added the gold leaf. This will serve well as Hera's crown. I plan to paint into the large arch with white, which will repeat from the lilies. I will use an Art Nouveau design. I think I will try to paint a gauze type cloth over the nude torso in some sort of Greek design. I will need to add a veil, lotus staff, pomegranate and cuckoo. Or at least some indications of such.

Muse

The face was dry enough today to work. Also, worked the chest area. Still trying to determine if the proportions are correct. I thought if the bottom right area behind the lilies was darkened it might lend some depth and create a movement toward the face. But eh color is too warm.

I've decided to just let the arm hang behind the lilies. I'm not sure the body is the correct proportion to the head, yet, either.

Muse

Wet, wet, wet. Pondering what to do with the lower left. Hand? Hand holding flowers/vine?

Muse

This piece is for submission to the Klein Gallery for its August show which gives a percentage of the proceeds to the New Bedford Women's Shelter. The theme of the show is women. This piece references the muse, the madonna and Art Nouveau. Lilies symbolize purity.

Conservancy - Bush in Winter

Colour is my day-long obsession, joy and torment. Claude Monet
Although Monet is a little to sticky sweet for me at times, he and I are on the same team when it comes to loving to find color, make color, use color.
I'm a little undecided about how far to go with this painting. I'm just adding small branches at this time and contrasting them a bit more. I think the strongest part of the painting is the delicate shadow of the bush in the lower right corner.
Found a neat app, leafspot. It can identify a tree by taking a picture of the leaf. Maybe I can finally know what kind of bush this is. I think I've identified my bush. Northern highbush blueberry, Vaccinium corymbosum, is a species of blueberry native to eastern North America, from Nova Scotia and Ontario south to Alabama, and west to Wisconsin. Other common names include blue huckleberry, tall huckleberry, swamp huckleberry, high blueberry, and swamp blueberry.

Lola and Margaux walk Minkcove with Wayne

Finished this little oil sketch for Lola.