12
Time for white tempera
I start defining the smallest details and edges with
white paint and a rounded watercolour brush. I use a dry
brush technique with white to emphasise masses of light.
Highlighted lines, borders and character details help to
convey the intrinsic beauty of the painting’s design.
13
Enhancing the dark values
I’m aiming for a dramatic composition filled with personality, and need to add
a few more dark layers around the focal point and darken the shadows on the main
character. I use a Japanese brush and mop brush because they hold more paint.14
Final touches
Adding touches of white tempera on the dark,
moody blue areas boosts the emotional aspect of the
scene. Because the characters are in “The Shimmer”, I’m
avoiding sharp details and edges. It’s helpful to step away
from a painting for a while, drink some coffee and return
with fresh eyes to add the final few strokes.
15
Wrapping up and preparing for the tiling stage
I now scan the piece into Photoshop in several stages at 600dpi resolution,
then combine the files to prepare for the 54x54 fabrication size. I take the
opportunity to add small details, correct mistakes and clean up the artwork before
sending it for further production. The brightness and contrast are enhanced by five
per cent. The artwork is then transferred on to customised tiles by a specialised
atelier to accompany the other 24 titles of this series.In depth Ceramic art