Aaaaand…it sucks.

My attempt to tackle this piece in oils has resulted in what looks like, to use the technical term, “ass on a stick.”

You win some, you lose some. This homily does not make it any less frustrating when you’ve lost one, mind you, but it’s still true. Once I am past the wailing and gnashing of teeth stage, I’ll get philosophical about it. I hope.

But it’s a good idea, and my underpainting was freakin’ wonderful, so I’m doing the only thing I can do–starting over on an identical board, and trying to do the whole thing in acrylics. Acrylics may often be cantankerous, but I understand them well.

Sigh.