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Lace painting in oils

February 26, 2016 by Lin Kerr 3 Comments

Today I drove to Bristol to go on a lace-painting workshop with Sophie Ploeg. There were five of us around the kitchen table, and Sophie explained the broad principles and started us off with pencil on paper, copying black lace on a white ground. This meant we could draw the lace in pencil on white paper, rather than shade the background to reveal the lace. In oil painting, it’s easier to draw the large shapes directly onto a blank dark canvas with a bristle brush, then slowly modify them with a (still large) #4 bristle brush, gradually going into more detail and down to the small sable paintbrushes.24-02-15Sophie Ploeg lace demo72

Sophie then began to demonstrate while we watched or painted. Here is her demonstration, which is far from complete. We had a dark brown ground which Sophie had painted in advance and we painted alla-prima (wet-in-wet), first blocking in the main shapes in a transparent white. You can see Sophie below, (standing) and my piece of lace (so far) is the one right in front.

24-02-15 Lace workshop Sophie Ploeg72I took a photo of the collar that Jo had painted but the photo was blurred 🙁 Here you can see Jan’s collar and also get an inkling of the process of outlining the main shapes before adding the details.
24-02-15 Lace Jan72

Below is the piece of lace that Jane Corbett painted – she is the only person who completed her lace painting . Isn’t it gorgeous!24-02-15 Jane Corbett72

What I found interesting is that everyone’s paintings were totally different. To me this is another endorsement that Sophie is an excellent teacher.

It was quite a long way to drive – 150 miles as a round trip, but well worth it! I’d like to complete my lace, show the drawing and tell you a little more about Sophie Ploeg and her forthcoming exhibition – opening on the 17th March at the Catto Gallery in London.

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Comments

  1. patricia barth says

    February 26, 2016 at 1:46 am

    I have always admired lace painting in the works of the great masters In large museums……..this has given me some insight into how it is done. Everything is possible once it is broken down to its parts…..thanks for sharing. I am enjoying your journey in oils Lyn even though I have never been interested in oils. You certainly have the touch.!

    Reply
  2. Sophie says

    February 26, 2016 at 8:53 am

    Thank you for your lovely blog post and for coming along the workshop. I am so pleased you enjoyed it, it was great meeting you and chatting with you. Sophie 🙂

    Reply
    • Lin says

      February 26, 2016 at 9:01 am

      Hi Sophie – My computer bombed out halfway through editing and trying to do links. They are all done now.

      Reply

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