Featured Artists-Craig Burt Collection

Painting by Numbers

Bail Out progressive

This picture is obviously not a painting but a drawing. I think it was from a time when I was a bit sick of paintings, so I went back to basics and did a simple drawing in pencil. The name 'Bail Out' refers to an 'out' for Leia - an escape or new path - from the situation into which she was born.

1. Was the inspiration for the picture. At the time the only two images I had of this new Bail Organa costume where these two small pics. With the more prominent role of Bail in Episode III that gave me the idea of drawing a visual connection between the old an new trilogies. And by virtue of the family relationship that meant Leia Organa was to be with Bail. The protective father standing watch - for his daughter and the republic - was the basis for the composition.

2. The similarity with this Episode II Captain Typho costume and the new Episode III Bail costume was obvious, so this was the basis of the Bail character. Many modifications to the clothes were necessary including the addition of the Episode III gun - from the Visual Dictionary.

2a. This is the small photo of Bail used for the face. That came from the Episode II Visual Dictionary. The photo is so small that I had to use a magnifying glass to extract enough detail from it for the drawing. 

3. Is a couple of drawings done before starting the picture. In the two compositions on the left you can see that I had the idea of putting Luke and Leia in the picture originally. Since Luke had no relationship with Bail it was best to use only Leia.

3a. You can see the composition for the picture. The method I've decided upon for composing these days is to draw the main characters in biro and then to do the background in pencil. That means I can try multiple compositions with only one main drawing - by rubbing out the pencil and trying different compositions. On that page there is also a trial sketch of Leia's face from the angle to be used in the picture.

4. Is the photo basis for Leia. I couldn't find a suitable photo of here facing directly ahead, so I was forced to use this one as a base and turn her head forward. I also had a few other photos of her face from similar angles around for reference to assist in retaining a likeness

4a. Is the hair style used for Leia - from the Episode I Padme ceremony costume. The idea for using this hair style was to create a bridge between the two trilogies - a character from the old trilogy (Leia) and one from the new trilogy (Bail) - and to make a scene as if from a time between the two trilogies. 

5. Is the final picture. In comparison with the photos you can see the change of expression on the characters faces to reflect the harsh and troubled times in which they live. With Leia, you can see the concern, almost shock, for things she sees going on around her. With Bail, you can see stoic resolve and the duty to do the right thing - a change from the almost smirk in the photo. The positions of the symbols to the right of Bail are deliberate. The republic roundel (directly behind his shoulder) represents Luke's homestead, with a horizon line leading to the edge of the picture. Above that line you have the empire roundel, representing the lower of Tatooine's two suns, above that is the rebel roundel being the higher of the two suns. This all provides a connection to Luke in the picture and a representation of the progression of the factions in the story - inspired from the classic sunset scene in the original Star Wars movie.

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