Charles Darwin with Atari joystick
I did post this picture ages ago in one of my rambling posts about Egg Tempera but it occurs to me he didn’t get his own post, sorry Charles.
So this is in my series of portraits of world changing thinkers. I wondered what would happen if we had modern day distractions back then. Would Darwin have come up with his wonderful books and theories if he’d been able to spend a weekend watching GOT on netflix?
What if he’d had an Atari – as my family did in the early 80s He might be an expert at Jungle King. But would he have joined the Beagle crew if he had been told it would not have reliable wifi?
I think I mucked his hands up on this one – too small. I’m not overly happy with the picture. It’s so-so. I gave up on it at a certain point and called it finished rather than keep working it to death.
I found my second attempt at egg tempera more experimental than the first. I started painting quite differently. I didn’t pre-mix colour, and I also didn’t grind the pigment, I just mixed it with the egg straight from the container. This is because grinding the colour moistens it and you have to then keep it in an airtight container – it’s already rather fine from the factory grinding. Lots of waste and extra steps and fuss.
Having as I do a degree in biology and a keen interest in the field, it also didn’t occur to me that people equate Darwin with a big bushy beard. So he’s not all that recognisable.
I like the younger Darwin. He’s dapper and his delight in nature and biology, and his energy, come out in all his writings. His book on the formation of coral atolls had me spellbound, it was so well written and his language so delightful. If you’ve only ever read the Beagle, give his other writings a go. Though you should definitely read the Voyage of the Beagle! (He wasn’t too fond of Australia, though, a bit disappointing as an Australian).
My full tutorials and blog posts on egg tempera are here. I might do an addendum after playing with it some more.
Egg tempera I – preparing the panels
Egg tempera II – transferring the picture
Egg tempera III – Grinding the pigment
Egg tempera IV – inking and cross hatching
Egg tempara VI – laying down real colour
Egg tempera VII – finished Painting
