Another painting on that wonderful red rosin paper. This one called In Flanders Field based on the famous piece by WWI poet Lt. Colonel John McCrea.
I used lots of cheesecloth and some netting embedded in the gesso. The colors I chose; olive green, burnt sienna, burnt umber, and red set the sombre tone. Poppies were stenciled on and xerox copies of poppies and of a soldier's face were coloured with oil pastels and affixed with matte medium. Bullet casings, chain mesh, and scraps of vintage WWI postcards were attached with heavy gel medium.
In Flanders Field
In Flanders Fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.
Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.
Ypres - 1915
such rich layers! that speak of the layers of life and death of the poem...
ReplyDeleteThanks, Stephanie. I've struggled with layering for years and in the last few months it's finally starting to work for me. I'm pleased with how this piece turned out.
ReplyDeleteErin