13 Entrance to the Mass

12x9in, oil on linen mounted to Gatorfoam panel

It was late in the morning on a Sunday when I met with a number of other Florentine painters to paint together near Santo Spirito. However that day happened to be a market day, and I set out to search for a subject. Eventually at the suggestion of Hannah Sutton, I came across this door and its striking light.

I set up in the shadow of an apartment block as the sun created a strong, front lit lighting on the entrance to the church. The light and shadow created a strong graphic shape, while I tried to keep a higher key to find the rich magentas and oranges within the shadows, with special attention to the colors of the wooden door. Halfway through, the doors opened, and I decided to change the composition.