Voggy Sunset

Mische technique (oil and egg tempera) on masonite, 6x6"

Finally! I have finished my first Renaissance style painting! This painting was done in many layers, starting with a base of transparent earth red (basically, burnt sienna). While that layer was still wet, I put in a layer of white egg tempera for the brighter areas. When that was dry a week later, a layer of yellow ochre was laid over the whole painting, with another layer of white egg tempera in the lighter areas. From there more layers of color were put in, with a week of drying time in between each. The purpose of the egg tempera is to create bright areas that glow through the layers of color above them. This technique is called Mische Technique, and is a resurrection of the methods used by Flemish masters of the 16th and 17th centuries.

The inspiration for this painting was a photo taken on our honeymoon. At the end of a day of hiking around volcanoes on the Big Island of Hawaii, we drove down to the shore in time for sunset. It was a particularly "voggy" day, as the locals told us. London has fog, LA has smog, Hawaii has vog. It's when there is a lot of volcanic emissions in the air, causing a rather stinky fog. But it certainly makes for some cool light effects! Sunset on this day did not have the pinks and oranges that I am accustomed to, instead there was a strange golden film everywhere, obscuring all but the brightest reflections in the distance.