The reason for the composition came from Rembrandt. He had a tendency to light his subjects very strongly from one side or from above, with this portrait I wanted something similar but I also liked the fact that it looks like Jenny is emerging from the dark. I’m not sure how it’s going to turn out yet but it’s getting there.

I think the most important thing I learned from this is if you want to get shit done just start building it, he never had a plan that I was aware of, I’m not even sure he had a plan he just got on with building the shed. I’ve always wanted to build a shed so when the opportunity arose in the form of building a Wendy House for the girls I jumped at it.

The image below is my copy. It’s ok but it lacks the tonal variation of the original, it also lacks the brushwork. If you look closely at the brushwork of the original he was definitely painting wet in wet and the way the paint mixes when doing so is difficult to replicate any other way.

Anyway, I’ve always wanted to try painting so after a few beers I had enough courage to try it, I painted a cartoon like snowman, it looks awful but I loved every minute of it. It was a strange feeling to just go at it. I might eventually post the painting here but it’s truly bad, maybe when I can actually paint I’ll have enough courage not to care.