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I finally got back to work on this one! I don't have a name for it yet which is why I am using 'centaurs braiding hair', ha! I'll think of something as I work on this. I finalized the drawing (called a cartoon) by redrawing the various elements on tracing paper which allowed me to cut out and move elements around until I was satisfied with the composition. I then retraced it on a full sized sheet exactly how I wanted the layout on the painting.
Next step was to prepare the painting panel. I am using a new product by Art & Enns of Canada, a polystyrene panel claimed to last over a thousand years with no deterioration...like I'll be around to see if it's true, right? Ha! Anyway, I have been looking for a better painting surface for a long time and decided to try out a panel from A&E on this painting. I like how they are made, but, they do have a pronounced texture on them. It is not too bad, though, so I painted the surface with alkyd paint tinted with burnt sienna for a warm golden underpainting to help fill in the texture. I sanded that down and now am happy with the surface.
With the panel ready to go, the next step was to transfer the cartoon to the panel. I taped the cartoon to the panel and used a red transfer paper between the cartoon and the panel and then drew over the drawing on the cartoon using a hard ball point pen. Once finished I had a light red tracing on the panel.
It is very light and the fine detail was not transfered due to the panel texture. I know that as it was, I would lose my drawing once I started applying paint, so, my next step was to redraw the tracing using a Sharpie marker to establish a bold, detailed drawing.
I will make numerous adjustments to this as I paint, especially on the figures faces and legs. The background will get a lot more added to it also...I'm still considering how I want to decorate the rooms and the centaurs. This is how it looks now.
Next step will be to start applying paint!
