After trying the gold leaf sheet on a small piece of canvas I cut it out to see what it would look like on the work. I didn’t work, because it drew the viewers attention away from the females face, it overpowered the rest of the composition so I painted over the face I had and painted in a reflection of the kimono’s feathers and background. I used the subtle colour shades or the background so that it would sit within the work not stand out.
Kathryn Raffell,2015, Acrylic on canvas, close up of 180cmx120cm work.
I am going to put this to one side now and see if it still works as a whole in a few days although I still think I need to add in some highlights and shading around the hand.
Well that was the plan but – I revisited the mirror and after repainting a reflective image of her dress in muted colours and added in some highlight white to signify light catching the mirror and now this is definitely the final, final finish to the mirror. When you step back your eye now travel around the canvas but instead of returning to the mirror the viewers attention within the composition is now the females face – done! I have wrapped the canvas to protect whilst I am prepping my degree show space, also so I don’t even think about doing any more to it (well at least until after the show).
Kathryn Raffell, 2015, Acrylic on canvas, close up of 180cmx120cm canvas.
