Paint-eggs |
A couple of years ago, Eric De Vree was asked to work out an idea for Easter at his children's school. He soon came up with the idea to paint eggs. Conceived initially as a frivolous idea, painting eggs soon became a real passion.
After the first relatively simple creations, the idea originated to paint an actual still life on an egg.
However, drawing and painting a flat design on a spherical surface is easier said than done.
Fixing and presenting the painted egg also required the necessary attention.
A couple of sleepless nights and many experiments later, the artist discovered the possibilities and the limitations of the treacherous egg shape.
The shape is important for the composition. De Vree chooses the eggs carefully after which they are emptied and cleaned. The surface of the egg also needs to be treated. Careful sanding and about five primer layers are needed to 'prep' the surface to hold the paint.
The composition sketch is made on this priming coat in pencil. The shapes are "optically corrected" depending on the curve of the egg.
The painting is made in the same way as on a flat surface. Three to four layers are needed to work out the painting until the required tone values have been obtained on the "paint-egg".