144artist paints Mantic's Terrain Crate
Mona Lisa Goes Fantasy
Gerry noticed my sketched Mona Lisa during the last Hobby Hangout and I mentioned I call her Mona Elfsa as she would be finished as a fantasy version of Leonardo’s masterpiece. I’ve included my reference as it is so much easier to copy something you can look at. I wanted a dragon in the sky so knew I would have to make that area a little bigger than in Leo’s but I wanted to match both the style he painted in and the look of age. He painted in many thin, blended layers, a technique called sfumato so I did the same. It is a lot like wet blending, to put it in mini painting terms, and, after drawing the rough shapes in pencil, I worked in washes and inks for the most part. I wasn’t trying to make an exact tiny copy as I have neither the skills nor tools for such an endeavour and I value what little sanity I have remaining. The key, I find, is to match the main shapes and colors.
I aged the painting once she was complete as I think she will make a wonderful McGuffin for a Wolsung game.
Here is a picture of the original. His countless transperant layers really paid off as her skin, if you ever see her in person, echoes the transluscence of real skin, almost glowing from within.
I drew the basic shapes in pencil then using two shades of brown roughed in some key color blocks like her hair, face, forearms, and a band across the background.
The wet pallet really helped keep the thin paints from evaporating in the Northern California dry summer heat. Here you can see where I added in small sections of color and texture to echo details in the original.
The sky is almost done here and the whole thing will need some Earthshade and Sepia to add age..
Ear added, skin continuing to be highlighted.
Final details, including dragon, finished and aging done.
I think she really came out well, just like I pictured her.
Excellent tutorial! You should be an art teacher!
Lol. I try every day.
Simply inspirational. If you are not a professional miniatures painter, you definitely should be! Fantastic work and so enjoyable to follow the progress of the project throughout – even if it never comes to an end!