After Vermeer

He showed how to create the true impression of light and shade and worked with ordinary people (I suspect they were his family as there are resemblances between so many of his subjects).

He also had a slightly odd view on composition too. Though conforming to aspects such as the rule of thirds and so on, he also chose some very odd features, such as plain tables, covered chairs and so on to make the composition balanced.

Most reproductions of his work show great swathes of very dark areas. I suspect that their original forms were so much brighter (as indeed is true of nearly all the "old masters").

Technique:

Photo's were taken in a specially staged shoot. Working from window light exactly as in Vermeers originals.

After some manipulation to create a rough level of light and shade across the image I then used various paint treatments coupled with some hand touch up.

It sort of works, but it has to be said, painting by effect in this way feels a little sterile.