Carmen Mural Complete

The Carmen mural is nearly finished. I just have to re-grid it and mark it for installation. The lower section is the image on the left and the top part is on the right. Once it is installed, the total dimensions will be 11 feet high by 5 feet wide. I am pleased with the color saturation and the density of the figures within the composition. I am looking forward to seeing the two pieces together on the wall. The figure on the upper right, on the balcony, is a quotation from Manet. In general I was looking a lot at the figure groupings of Piero della Francesco, especially in the parade of matadors. The two female figures on the right, the "cigarette workers" are as intimidating as they are in the opera! Two of my favorite figures are the little boy on the right and the boy peeking out between the two matadors. Sometimes while I was working, he would catch my eye and wink. I am sure he will do the same for the people he will be living with!

Opera Mural #3 Carmen

I have started the third of my Opera Murals for my wonderful clients on Capitol Hill. This one is based on the opera Carmen, and will be about six feet wide by eleven feet tall. Like the others it will disguise a secret elevator door. There will be a tiny doorknob which when pulled will open the mural to reveal-an elevator! The bottom image is the drawing on canvas of the lower part of the mural. It is charcoal, on fire retardant muslin that has been primed with tinted gesso. The main figures of Carmen and Don Jose will end up just about at the viewer's eye level when the mural is installed. In the foreground are the women from the cigarette factory as well as little street urchins and some matadors in fancy hats. In the middle ground is Don Jose's rival on a white horse. (I can't wait to paint that!) and in the distance is the bull fighting arena with a bullfight going on. The image on the top is the upper part of the mural, also drawn in charcoal on canvas. This is the balcony above the arena. It is populated by soldiers and ladies in hats holding fans. I am about to start with the color, so please check back to see the progress.