Der Rauchermann

Here is something else I've been working lately: der Rauchermann--a smoke (well, incense really) blowing Christmas decoration I picked up in Leipzig, Germany a few years ago (and have been meaning to paint ever since). It's still really beginning stages yet, but it's a great object to paint with all the textures--smoke, bushy beard, shiny painted wood, less shiny wood.  I've been working on this one in the evenings with artificial light--seeing as daylight is so short in the winter. In the past, I haven't really liked working with artificial light, but this subject lends itself much better to the light than those I've used before, and, so far, I'm much happier with this painting.