Thomas Jefferson, oil on Strathmore Museum board by Paul Zdepski
Thomas has had a very exciting run since his presidency… This piece was part of the four winning paintings entered in the Ely competition in 1998. He then went on to become an ambassador for Virginia arts in the country of Panama in 2006. He is hung in the U.S Embassy Residence in Panama City, Panama watching every move of Ambassador William Eaton as he schlepped to the kitchen for his morning java. This piece is derivative of Rembrandt Peale’s Jefferson in the fuzzy collared smoking jacket. This is the first piece I had tried the crackle finish on… After two weeks of research, sketches and execution, it was very stressful to finish a painting and then coat it with gum Arabic, Damar and wait for results. I was very happy with the final results of this old woodworker’s technique of antiquing. I had to scumble some umber and sienna into the cracks, wiping down the surface to get the full result, but it turned out believable.
