Hello 

Today, I've been learning more about the Sfumato techniques that the amazing Rennaisance Masters such as Leonardo DaVinci and Michelangelo Buonarroti ( the guy that painted the Sistine Chapel ceiling and walls ) and we cannot discount Raphael who did an amazing works as well, he too learned from these two masterful men. 

I am reading the book Michelangelo and the Pope's Ceiling, which does talk more about the Fresco technique than the Sfumato but so far, the author mentions Leonardo's techniques as well of sfumato.  It's an intense book but it is also encouraging me to push through.  The crazy stories of how life was back then, I see so much of the strong arming of people's talents today by how money buys people whether they want to participate or not.  Funny how we do not learn from the past experiences.  

So, my Mona Lisa sfumato is very discouraging, the dust here in Southern Arizona is uncontrollable and making hte sfumato curdle with the raw umber and walnut oil.  I have to succumb to more modern techniques and maybe just use liquin instead, at least it doesn't curdle.  
I am only doing this painting to learn from it, just as Raphael learned from Leonardo and Michelangelo among a few other brilliant artists of the day, too many to mention here.  

I need to fix my Mona Lisa and I will then share the images of my progress then.  

Wish me luck people, hope you are enjoying my Blogs, and if you have any questions or recommendations to work with sfumato, I am very open minded.

Have a brilliant day! 
Thank you for reading this, 
Déborah Cassolis