Glistening

This is a currently unfinished picture that I started at the weekend. I wanted to use my pearly buttons-they are so pretty and just languish in a tin all day when really they should be out showing their pearly goodness. I suddenly had the idea that I could sew them to a canvas. So I found a model, sketched a face with a graphite pencil, painted over with watery gesso and then started to fill in her hair-or hat, with buttons. There is a slight problem I had not foreseen-the wood at the edge of the canvas-so her hair/hat will stop abruptly in a straight line. Whenever I make anything I always have a feeling of excitement to see how it will turn out, to see an idea realised, and sometimes I am disappointed and sometimes not. This time not. I love the way the pearl buttons glisten in low light, and the simple palette. I am undecided how to finish her though-whether to leave the background white or do it a deep, warm grey. I will try out the options in photoshop.
Last night I watched a documentary about the artist Grayson Perry, taking his teddy bear Alan Measles on a pilgrimage to Germany on a specially made motorbike. I can't begin to explain the many intricacies of GP's world but it was a fascinating and heartwarming insight into it, and well worth watching. It was related to this exhibition currently on at the British Museum called 'The Tomb of the Unknown Craftsman' which I must go to see! Apologies if you can't watch bbc iplayer programmes in other countries-I don't know if you can or not!