My latest in the Nude in Bloom Series.
 
I have painted 7 in this series over the years, all of which have now found permanent homes.
 
This is the largest I have painted like this, at a whopping 198 x 101cm, on beautiful fine Belgian Linen.
 
My process: I start by painting the nude in natural ochre tones, focusing mainly on values and the darkest and lightest areas, blocking out the background in a flat darker grey. I then start layering extremely thick impasto florals in archival / museum quality acrylic paint, entirely with palette knives. This is a very time intensive process, and a labour of love. The textures and effect is quite hard to capture on a screen and really needs to be seen in the flesh, as it constantly changes with the light in a room, the peaks of paint casting shadows on the linen.I try and think of flowers or plants that will fit certain areas and still convey the natural shape and details of body underneath. I also constantly focus on colour shifts and graduations, like pops of warmer notes throughout the predominantly blue and green leg to compliment and balance the hints of blue through the warm torso areas. I then start working on the background, this time in oils, so that I can create very subtle smooth blending in the shadows to contrast the wild oversaturated textured body. I wanted the shadows in this to be quite extreme, like she is levitating or floating in space, hence the name 'Cosmic Nude in Bloom'.
 
All in all it was approx 150 hours of work, and I loved every minute of it
 
I offer various shipping options worldwide with these huge works, from straight to your door and ready to hang in a custom crate, to the free worldwide option of canvas rolled in a protective tube. Just contact me and we can work out what best suits you.
 
Much love, Aidan.