STORY BEHIND THE ART OF CARRIE DI COSTANZO

22nd Annual International

American Society of Botanical Artists at Marin Art & Garden Center

Two Celosia Flowers

Celosia argentea

I have been exploring egg tempera for the past two years and have discovered many beautiful qualities to this medium. It can produce soft and glowing effects while also allowing for fine detail and is well suited for botanical art.

I wanted to paint a familiar subject, Celosia flowers, using egg tempera to create a piece that looked different than my past work. This painting is on wood panel prepared especially for egg tempera and has a very smooth surface, which is perfect for small details. A dark background was created to add dramatic contrast throughout.

Using egg tempera can be a challenge as it is necessary to add many layers of paint to achieve a certain look. Although this takes patience, it is very rewarding to watch the subject comes alive as the painting slowly progresses.

Next Story

Back to List

Read more about this artist’s work: 21st Annual