copying at the National Gallery: White Poodle, day 4

December 9, 2014

White Poodle, day 4

Another dark and rainy day, but somehow my easel was positioned differently and my painting had more light on it. Today I worked on the fur!

I was kind of scared to start painting the fur. I've never tried to paint fur before. I brought a new color, Naples Yellow, which I had at home but which I never use. It is made from lead, and is very rich and creamy. I don't know if Stubbs used it (because I haven't bothered to research it,) but I bet he did. It seemed to match the color better.

I will probably paint all the fur again next week, because my squiggles are bigger and farther apart than his squiggles, but at least I got a start on it. I also see an adjustment I have to make in the dog's face. And I'll need to tackle the boat, and finish up the trees, and repaint the sky and cloud. I'm hoping just a few more weeks on this one.

(click the images for a larger view)

1 comment:

Lorraine K. said...: HI Amy,

Cold, dark days but your poodle brightens everything up! Lorraine; December 10, 2014 at 5:16 PM

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copying at the National Gallery

A friend turned me on to the Copyist Program at the National Gallery of Art in Washington D.C. in the fall of 2000. Since I live in Northern Virginia, it is pretty convenient (about 45 minutes travel time) to get there. I called the Registrar of the museum to say I was interested in becoming a copyist, and she said she would mail me a packet of information and requirements. I received the packet in the next day's mail! I read through all the rules and regulations of being a copyist, and saw that I would need to come up with four letters of recommendation: two from people who knew me as an artist, and two character references. I immediately contacted four people who could serve as references, and asked them to mail in letters for me. I was also required to write my own letter, stating why I was interested in the copyist program. Finally, I had an interview with the Registrar and showed her two of my paintings. I was accepted into the program that day, and within a month of that first phone call, I was standing in the National Gallery copying my first painting.

Copyists are given a locker in a locked room in the museum. I keep my current painting there, in the painting rack. I have to ask a guard to unlock the copyists' room whenever I want to access my locker. The museum provides a large easel, stool, and dropcloth, which are in position in the gallery I am copying in. A permit must be obtained for each painting I copy, and I'm only allowed to work on one at a time. I have to have my permit on me or with the painting all the time, and show it to the guards on request. Only one copyist is allowed in a room on a given day, and some of the rooms are off limits because they are too small. Only works in the West Building are available for copying. There are other restrictions, such as not being able to sell your copy while on National Gallery property, and having to size your copy at least two inches smaller or larger than the original.

copying at the National Gallery

December 9, 2014

White Poodle, day 4

1 comment:

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