Chinese Robe painting: work in progress

This is a 'work in progress' that has taken a long time to progress! As always some large pieces have to make way for other works or commissions, so this has had a year's 'gestation'. Not a bad thing really as it allows me to make decisions gradually and allow the painting to evolve. Paintings rarely emerge straight from my head onto paper/board/canvas, I like to allow the beginnings of a painting to suggest it's end.

This one is large 120cm x 60 cm, and is my usual combination of oil paint, pastels and enamel paint on Thai paper which has been fixed to a board frame. I will use resin for the final stage, which will always add another dimension to it.

I took inspiration for all the elements of this piece from the Victoria & Albert museum, building up reference sketches over a few months. I would like to subtitle this painting 'Homage to Felicity Aylieff' as I couldn't resist a variation on the theme of her outstanding monumental ceramic jars, which I have hinted at on the lower left side of the painting. As a contemporary ceramicist her works are influenced by the traditions of Chinese ceramics but have a wonderful modern freshness. Definitely my favourite ceramicist!

I plan to have this piece ready for the PAOS exhibition in June 2013. Come and see it then!