Walls, Windows, Ceilings....
I was Home last week on Vacation, Dear Readers, and while I did not get anywhere near as many things done as I had hoped, I did tackle a couple of those "Big" little projects that have been waiting for my Time and Attention! One of those is Painting the egg-carton rocks of the Cloud Palace Tower. This is one of those areas where I have to complete the work on the inside before I can complete the building on the outside... and even the next level up... because it will be too difficult to accomplish once the ceiling is in place! And I made it more difficult for myself (I think) by not painting the walls black before adding the egg-carton rocks. Although I think I would have needed to add black paint to all the crevices anyway even if I had under-painted with black. It is a daunting task to add black paint into all the gaps between ALL the "rocks" on the Tower!
And once it has been added... it looks terrible!
So then I needed to add the further layers of the gray paints
to make the black recede into the cracks.
Here it is with just the dark gray layer
added to make the black almost disappear...
It just looks way too dark!
So I added more layers of the lighter gray.....
And washes of browns.....
And I think it is starting to look like rocks!
But are they the kind of rocks I want?
I am not so sure....
I think they need to be paler....
Somehow more Cloud-like!
This might be challenging!
And as you can Imagine, Dear Readers,
I was not working on only ONE project!
I had also decided to tackle the problem
of the Windows for the Willowcrest....
I have decided that I need to abandon the order that
the Instructions for this kit want you to follow
as far as the windows are concerned.
They tell you to add them as a LAST step!
I am not sure there is a reason to wait for the last step....
and it would mean you can't weight them down while the glue dries....
So I am planning to add them to the walls right from the start.
Above you can see the pattern I have chosen to paint for the
"Leaded glass" portion of each window.
I decided that since I want to be able to see into the rooms from the outside,
the decoration on these windows needed to be minimal.
It is very tricky to paint with this "leaded glass" paint,
so I added the pattern in sections,
letting each part dry overnight before adding the next part,
to prevent smearing the paint.
Here you can see the window temporarily in place
in the kitchen of the Willowcrest....
just so you can see how the pattern looks.
I still needed to add the color to each window.....
One tiny piece of color at a time!
Here is the kitchen window with the color done....
Of course, the color looks washed out when viewed in place....
but it actually looks pretty good!
And here I am testing the Parlor windows in place...
It was too dark without the sconces on....
I think the colors work really well here.
And the bedroom windows being tested in place....
I have used the same pattern for all the windows,
but used different colors to suit each room.
Here is a closer view of the bedroom window....
Oh, and Madame Durant wanted to come
see the progress on her house!
I still need to add the lead golfer's tape to the exterior side
of each of these windows, Dear Readers.
Another task that will take a long time...
but needs to be done before the windows are glued in place!
And as if that weren't enough of those "Big" little projects,
I also continued work on the painted ceiling of the Castle Great Hall!
Do you even remember those Patient Saints?
Some only just barely begun....
and others with only a few tiny details still missing.
Of course, I forget to take a "before" picture...
not that you would notice the little details I have added anyway!
In the above picture you can see I have painted
the borders along each side a lovely golden ocher color.
(It is so difficult to get a good focus on this ceiling!)
Here you can see a close-up of the Saints Lucia and Nicholas
after I had added quite a few details.
And here is Saint Bridget before I had added anything.....
And with the under-painting of the pleats in her robes....
And the color of the pleating
and the beginnings of the church and the sword.....
And for Saint Matthew, the beginnings
of the highlights for his robes pleating....
And some details of his book stand and his seat.
But what I really was trying to get to work on, Dear Readers,
was the painting of the Borders along each side of the ceiling!
They are going to be populated with little images of the daily life of the Ordinary people,
the Sinners as apposed to the Saints who live so large above!
Here I have started to paint the under-painting of a group of Nobles dining.....
And here I have started a sequence which includes
a Couple playing chess, some Musicians playing and Dancers dancing,
and even a pair of Lovers who are enjoying each other in the bushes....!
Of course, these are Far from finished....
I have added the painted black outlines
and still need to add all the color and details...
And here you can see the outlines added to the Feasters as well.
This is the central panel in the Great Hall...
right over the Fireplace and where the Lord and Lady will be seated to Dine.
It will serve as a constant reminder of the Human tendencies to Sin....
Which the Medieval painters so loved to portray
in the borders and margins of their works!
There will be six panels in all....
So you can see, Dear Readers, I still have a long way to go...
But whether it is on the Ceiling, Windows, or walls....
I have been adding Paint and More paint!
(I do Love to paint!)
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