Nebula I

Well am working on a space scene, using acrylics, a nebula that is formed primarily by dust and gases.  There are just fabulous photos of outer space galaxies and the colors and shapes are quite extraordinary.  I don't think there is any wrong way to do a nebula, it is just learning how to get various strokes and as always with acrylics, add layers until you get when you want.   Actually I think it will be great learning on how to use a brush, different parts of the brush, to get different effects.

Ok, this isn't completed, but I wanted to show it as I am about to perform an experiment and I wanted a picture of what it looked like before, in case it doesn't turn out as I expected.  I am going to put my first star layer in and then try to utilize my transparent white.  I want to mix that white with other transparent colors to see if I can come up with realistic skin tones and then superimpose a portrait over the top of the nebula background.  You see how in the middle I sort of have a cleared space that could support skin tones, that's where the portrait will go.  I know you can do it with photographs, but not sure if it will work with paints.  I sort of want some of the background to show through in parts of the face, hair and neck area as well as dust stars over the portrait to further tie it in.  I see it in my head, but can I get it on paper?  That is the question.

I have had a picture humming around in my head for over 10 years now and need that type of technique as I think that is the solution to making that picture work.  Actually I have a series all designed if I can get past how to make it work as one picture and not two separate images in a picture.  So fingers crossed.

So the experiment will go on today and you may or may not see the results as I might have to trash and start over once again.   Oh well, that is certainly how you learn.  If it works, once I get the portrait in I will finish my nebula.