This is my first update on my Original Artwork-in-Progress ~ A Medieval Fair (18″ x 24″), and this piece is a new technique and direction for me.  I like to serialize my paintings, as it makes me focus on what I’m doing in my paintings in order to be able to explain it to you.

Up until now, I only painted with vibrant, full-strength acrylic paints, and on my last painting for the first time I tried an acrylic watercolor wash to ‘set’ my pencil sketch over a base coat of white paint, which otherwise was subject to smudging.  The watercolor wash worked so well, that I decided to experiment using a ‘layered wash’ approach on this painting, using an assorted mix of thinned down acrylic paints in painting A Medieval Fair, and so far I’m happy with the softer and more muted result.

While I don’t think this technique is one I’ll always use, it does allow me to paint with a variety of options, from watercolor washes to full strength paints, and as I fill in the details I may end up using them all.  The interesting aspect about this work is, that I can’t tell if the Medieval Fair is being conducted in daylight or under moonlight, as the sky seems to work in both directions, and adds a dreamy quality to the setting.

These are my thoughts about A Medieval Fair at the moment, and it will be interesting to see if I feel the same way once it’s finished ~ stay tuned! ☼ 🙂