No Better Place, Than Home, At Twilight On A Warm Summer Evening”

On My Easel – Village at Twilight

On My Easel is this little village scene. I have no idea what the name of the technique is… I’ve probably been told, and if so, then I have forgotten.

To achieve the effect, you start with a black canvas, and, using good old school chalk, you draw all the outlines of your subject matter. You then go ahead and paint out your piece around all the chalk marks. The paint is allowed to dry (acrylic works best with this technique). Then, with a damp cloth, you wipe off all the chalk.

Voila – The black lines appear.

The technique works especially well with specific subjects like old English Tudor style buildings, but I have seen some beautiful work done by associates who used seagulls, mythical beings, old English harbours, and fishing boats.

I have to place two figures in the scene, a bit of yellow light and I have to decide whether or not to brighten up the walls.

It’s kind of a whimsical piece.