STEP ONE was to process and print a lovely photo I took of my 3-year-old granddaughter Julia, who was doing a plein air project at the Florence Griswold Museum in Old Lyme, Connecticut.
STEP TWO was to create an umber and white ACRYLIC underpainting and leaving a white space into which Julia will paint her own “part” of the painting.
STEP THREE was to ask Julia if she would paint for me. She said YES! and I supplied her with a brush, several colors of OIL paint, and an old shirt. I used blue painters tape and white paper to block out all but the area for her work.
STEP FOUR was Julia's part: She was very enthusiastic and painted “monkeys” on the blocked out section. ( she had watched a Curious George episode just prior to this invitation!). I made a cute movie of her explaining what she was doing.
STEP FIVE was to remove the tape and place the picture on my easel.
STEP SIX was for me to add a burnt sienna OIL wash and then wiping out some of it to establish a second layer, finishing my values. I then complete adding colored layers to the underpainting, being careful to preserve Julia's work.