TM8315 While Passing the Magellanic Cloud 20×36 oil on panel

The Magellanic Cloud, a galaxy neighboring our own Milky Way, is both mysterious and beautiful. With its luminous glowing gases, stars, and bands of dark dust it just begs to be painted. I like to imagine circling through and around it, taking in the views from different perspectives. Thanks to pictures from the Hubble Telescope, I have a starting point. Thank you NASA. On with the journey!

TM8315 While Passing the Magellanic Cloud – detail from center right

Technical painting notes – While Passing the Magellanic Cloud is a somewhat complicated painting. It was developed using monoprint techniques and many glazes, all techniques described in some of my other cosmos posts. The band of dark dust passing across the entire lower portion of the painting was primarily achieved using a palette knife and a very soft wash brush. A mixture of dark blue-violet oil paint was mixed with Liquin Impasto medium, then applied loosely with a palette knife. While it was wet, I dragged the color with additional standard Liquin medium using a soft wash brush and a light touch.