Vienna 1914
I began my painting of The Bashful Courtesan in earnest the next morning, soon after I woke up. I looked at the painting carefully before I placed the tail end of my brush against the canvas and scraped a line across it. I drew two lines vertically, dividing the painting into six sections. I brought out my paints and solvents, as well as a jar of ammonia I sometimes used, laying them on the worktable close at hand. Then I brought out a dozen bees wax candle stubs and laid them alongside my paint box. I had a small dish with a lit candle underneath, which I broke the candle pieces into, collecting my liquid essence one chunk at a time.
I mixed the colours I wanted. Lighter colours I needed for sea and sky: yellows, blues, and reds. I mixed huge quantities on my paint board, stirring the colours with my spatula and folding it together like a soft meringue. When I was ready, I moved the candle from underneath the dish, waiting for the melted…
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