Luca Day Witch III

I felt I needed a third Luca Witch to complete a small set of three for my solo exhibition (still untitled). 

I discarded my idea of the third witch being older, and decided to instead depict a very young girl - continuing my commentary of social outcasts and strangers being labeled as witches in small, paranoid communities. How young can a witch be? When does she become a witch? Or is the child of an outcast already born branded as such?

Ghost

35.5 x 25cm / Mixed Media (watercolour, pencil, and lace on paper)

I’ve been testing combining my detailed watercolour portraits with elements of collage and mixed media. My first experiment with this technique was BriarRose, and I liked the result enough to try a few more variations. I haven’t yet shared them here, as they are mostly works in progress. I finished the first small ghost though, so I can show her to you!

Daniel Huot

I think it always wonderful to see how another artist depicts you in a portrait. I am thrilled to have been the subject for one of the luscious paintings by Daniel Huot - head to his flickr to see more of his work!

The Good Fae

The finished piece - 106cm tall by 75cm wide, watercolour on aquarel paper.

My depiction of the three "good faeries" from the Grimm Brother's tale of Briar Rose (Sleeping Beauty).

I had to hold myself back from adding roses and flowers... but I didn't want it to be too "pretty".

Prototype

I’ve begun prepatory work on a new series of paintings. Changing subject matter has been quite daunting - naturally it came hand in hand with a fair amount of uncertainty. When working in your usual style with subject matter you are long familiar with, you know what tricks or “safe” aspects to fall back on in order to complete a piece. Treading unfamiliar ground you do not have these old tricks to rely upon, but must be open to trial and error.

I created this little watercolour as a “prototype” for the new series of ghostly portraits. I was thrilled with how it was looking till I ruined everything by adding the wreath. I much prefer the progress shot I took when the figure was still bald - I feel the wreath made the piece cluttered and busy, distracting from the silent intensity of the child’s empty stare.

Sigh! With watercolour it is not so easy to correct such a mistake. I have two options: to leave it as it is, hoping it will grow on me; or to do something drastic, like paint out the wreath with white acrylic paint, transforming it into an eerie halo around the child’s face.

None the less, I’m glad that I created this small prototype to experiment with what works and what doesn’t before I attack a full sheet of paper.

Which state do you prefer, pre-wreath or post-wreath?

Originals Available

With my Solo Show slowly creeping closer, I’m mentally beginning the selection process of which pieces to exhibit. Some of the original paintings I have created that will not find their way to the walls of the Eszterház Palace are now available for purchase through my Etsy Store, to make their way to your own walls!

Unframed watercolours as well as the decadently framed “Baroque Portraits” (that were exhibited at the Zichy Palace) are available for purchase here. 

If you have any private questions, do not hesitate to contact me via an Etsy “convo”, or zip me an email:  monimano at hotmail dot com

The Bandit Leader

The LAST of my “Hungarian Folktales” inspired illustrations, ready for my May solo exhibition.

I introduce the Bandit Leader, from a folktale called “The Prince of the Three Wild Beasts”. In the tale, as the old King lays dying, he makes his son promise that he will not marry until he finds a suitable husband for his younger sister. The princess however is not an overall sympathetic character, and no suitors arrive to ask for her hand. Fed up the prince announces he is going to go adventuring and see the world. Upon her requests, the prince takes his sister with him. On the road they are accosted by a troupe of bandits, but the prince slays them all with ease – he spares the leader, who leads them to his castle in the woods. Here the Bandit Leader is locked in a room as a prisoner – but not before the princess falls for his good looks. Through the keyhole he wins her heart with beguiling promises and flattery, and convinces her to try and kill her brother. However, with his kind heart the prince wins the unfailing loyalty of the three wild beasts sent to kill him, who at the end of the tale tear the Bandit Leader to shreds for attempting to murder their master. I wanted to depict my Bandit as a handsome, though dangerous faced young man.

After completing 30 folktale illustrations, (25 within the past four months - as well as various other side projects), I feel I have done this theme justice, and am ready to move on to a new body of work.