William Adolph Bouguereau knew how to paint the human figure and beautiful flesh tones. Not just color, but radiance, light, plush, glowing, moist, flushed. I have never before painted a master copy but thought I should do this type of study before I cannot! My tremor is much worse and some days I just cannot accomplish what I see in my mind. Plus the fact that getting the cataracts removed makes it so very difficult for me as an artist. I’m told that I can no longer focus so why then does my vision go out of focus? Well, enough about that. I want to tell you that in all honesty, most of this project was not pleasant for me. I did enjoy the drawing, the grisaille, the many layers that brought this painting to my time and my reality. What I did not enjoy was this; when painting my own work, I place the marks with an artistic abandon but when making a copy where I am trying my best to stay true to the original, I found myself constrained to someone else’s choices. I was no longer placing the paint with instinct but instead with a rigid pattern. None the less, I am impressed by the beauty envisioned by Bouguereau and satisfied, even pleased with my ability to reproduce his vision. I am grateful. If you or someone you know would like to purchase this Master Copy please contact me by email at brucendiana@verizon.net.

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