Cuthbert leaves Lindisfarne

I photographed all the stages of this painting, because I thought you might like to see it.
If you don't, skip to the last photo :)

Saint Cuthbert was the Bishop of Lindisfarne (Holy Island) and he was buried there when he died. Sadly, we had some naughty marauding Vikings sail across the water, who just loved to turn up and pillage, loot and all manner of unspeakables.

So when the monks had gist of another invasion, they exhumed the body of the Saint and carried him across the water to England, where his final resting place is Durham Cathedral.

There is a brass sculpture (first photo) to commemorate this voyage - but I tried to imagine how it would be when the real monks were carrying Cuthbert across the sea. And I had to include some fog, for my painting friend , Peg..

 the sculpture.. thanks to Lynne for the use of her photo. xx

my pencil drawing

first washes where there will be no fog

adding more washes to the visible parts

first swishing over the fog area in sweeping strokes with a wet brush, then dropping in the fog colour mix.. 

Adding in a touch more colour to the vestments beneath the fog and some shadow on the faces - and we have the finished painting:

Cuthbert leaves Lindisfarne