My son has a school project to do a master copy painting. He got to choose the artist and the piece. I urged him to pick something less ambitious like Malevich’s White On White, but he decided to go with Frederic Edwin Church’s Horseshoe Falls, Niagara. At least he didn’t choose The Heart of the Andes!

I am excited because I get to act as advisor – as long as I keep my mits off the brushes. My recommendation was that he start with a two-color wipeout underpainting with French Ultramarine for the sky and the darkest waves and Terre Verte for the waterfall. Here’s the underpainting at the end of the first session. I think it looks fantastic!

My son’s mastercopy project after completing a wipeout underpainting.