New Corn Series painting: Marie Antoinette: "Let Them Eat Corn"

by Dena Tollefson

Here is my latest Corn Series painting - and a step-by-step of what it looked like in process. This blog posting is a continuation of my June 15, 2010 post entitled Painting Demonstration: Corn at the Window: Marie Antoinette (Let Them Eat Corn).


Underpainting  for "Marie Antoinette: Let Them Eat Corn" copyright 2010  Dena Tollefson Oil on Canvas 40"x30"

I had set this painting aside until August to concentrate on a commissioned painting. Got a great ear of corn from Knights's farm, put the spotlight on in the studio, and got to work. Here's the photo of the next step with the fields started and the kernels developing...

Painting in Process at my easel "Marie Antoinette: Let Them Eat Corn" copyright 2010 Dena Tollefson Oil on Canvas 40"x30"

The final steps to complete this corn painting were to restate the light around Marie and the window, and add details of the stalks of corn up closest to the window. I reglazed the distant sky at the horizon with a combination of titantium white and a bit of cad yellow. Also worked on the reflected light hitting the kernels on Marie's side opposite the window. I added cad orange highlights in her corn silk hair. Below is the completed painting.


Completed painting: "Marie Antoinette: Let Them Eat Corn" copyright 2010 Dena Tollefson Oil on Canvas 40"x30"