Grahame Sydney
Grahame Sydney, Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit, (ONZM) for services to painting, was born Dunedin. He attended Corstorphine Primary, Macandrew Intermediate and King's High School. He has been painting for almost 30 years and his works are sought after by local and international buyers as well as being held in the collections of New Zealand's major galleries.
Style and technique
Grahame Sydney uses egg tempera to add gloss to his paintings. His work is photographic quality showing extremely fine detail such as individual grass blades. There are layers of mountains.
His work shows an accurate reproduction of colour, shade and texture. His use of one and two point perspective makes it look as if you are in the space rather than distanced from it.
Cleverly his work shows some sign of human habitation but no actual people, just suggesting that man has been there.
Vanishing point tips
The vanishing point is around the centre, at the eye line. Everything emanates from there and you need to get it in the right place. Otherwise if the vanishing point is too low, it looks as though your feet are off the ground. If it is too high then it looks god like i.e. as though you are looking from the top.
(The graphics are examples from a teacher's workshop).
To make egg tempera (note the extra glossy colour effect the egg yoke gives the paint)
Separate egg from yoke in hands (clean hands with newspaper)
Take egg white home to make pavlovaMix equal amounts of egg with powered paint to make a gooey thick paint
(Grahame Sydney grinds up his own colour)
Mix colours on palate and paint
Note that the egg help the paint dry quickly
The paint is ouch dry and able to be painted over in 10 minutes
Have to let each layer dry as you go
Can't do pure white because the egg yolk colours the white
The colour is more intense with less water added
Internet resources
The official Grahame Sydney Website
