The Inspiration. From the Murray McMurray Hatchery Catalog (a real hoot - check it out: http://www.mcmurrayhatchery.com).
The Studio. I'm using the Bow Window Room for furniture refinishing and other arts & crafts, for now at least. I put down a blue tarp to protect the parquet floor and brought an old table home from the College. There's light from the ceiling fan and the amaryllis add a little taste of nature.
The Drawing. I used a Photoshop and a laser printer to make a full-sized mock-up, then transferred it using graphite paper to a 1/4" exterior-grade plywood board that I'd previously treated with size and several coats of white gesso.
I'm using Golden Heavy Body acrylics mixed with gloss medium for the underpainting. The colors I chose are all rated excellent for outdoor use and lightfastness, and are transparent. I need to make the Chicken quite bright as he will be situated in a shaded area at the peak of the barn, about 25 feet high. I'll use many layers of transparent glaze to build the colors and shading, then add iridescent colors mixed in heavy gel to make the feathers really stand out. That's the plan anyway - we'll see what happens as I go along.
Chicken Painting - Glazes. I got this far by the end of February. I've painted many layers of thin glazes to build color. The next step will require heavy gells and iridescent powders to model feathers and add livliness.
Almost Done Here's how it looks just before varnishing.
Finished and Installed Here's the painting installed high at the top of the barn. (Note that I've also painted a trotter on the loft door.)
