Red Satin

I came across this young woman, sitting on the steps at Trafalgar Square lost in her own world. There was something really confident and hopeful in her demeanour but also a slight vulnerability. 

She was settled on her soft fur coat, concentrating on her paperwork and phone, her expression set in concentration as if preparing for something important.
I loved the starkness of her white blouse with the deep blue skirt and red silk lining of her fur coat. So much colour yet so calm and simple.

As those who follow my blog will know, I love detail . . . painting the fur was so enjoyable. I wasn’t sure how I would approach it, but once I had mixed the colours it took over and dragged me in. The first pass looked pretty much complete but I went in again strengthening the dark areas and highlights and adding masses of long fine, hairs, softening the overall texture. Pure Joy.

I can’t wait to paint fur again . . .  “fake” fur, that is.