This section presents a recent experiment of mine. I am inspired by the lushness and richness of classical oil painting, but these commissions are time-consuming and therefore costly. I wanted to develop a more affordable technique and style that would carry the original depth and message of Renaissance work into contemporary life. I chose the clair-obscure technique to provide the rich, technical detail in a sepia monochrome drawing. I use large canvases to provide scale and scope. I use copper leaf to highlight the main subject, and to bring additional relief and texture to the piece. Copper leaf complements the sepia colour, and reflects light, emphasising the values in the main figure. I apply the red undercoat roughly to produce a textured finish. This is also to give the piece a modern feel, by distinguishing it from the 'perfection' of classical oils, and making it compatible with the clean lines of contemporary decor. Catherine Denaes (c) 2002 - 2006