And another one

Unexpectedly, this Toussiana mask was done.
The blue on the bird's bill used to be made with Reckitt Blue, as blue dyes were rare in Africa























Nowadays, Reckitt Blue has become a rarity, so I had to emulate with acrilic paints.
http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toussiana_(d%C3%A9partement)

Green Man of Canterbury

Pholiant

Finished today

The Cowry shells one time represented money

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shell_money#African_shell_money

This mask symbolizes the transition to maturity.

http://www.sanaaafrika.com.au/?p=3526

Nearly finished Toussian mask

Did the blue and red today.
Some retouching still left to be done
Colours seem rather harsh due to flash
As blue pigment was not very common in Africa, Reckitt's blue was an attractive alternative.
Sadly, this one-time commodity is no longer available in Western Europe. I therefore use acrilic paints.

















The bird's body will be decorated with cowry shells.

Korsunskaya-finished

With a Ukrainian Rushnik  or towel

(Last gold lines added tonight)

Saw this East African woman today, as I left the railway station, wearing some kind of traditional Somalian dress, very bright vermillion in the afternoon light. A shining, almost Marian appearance.

My icon was walking there.

Vyaz (Вязь) or lettering reads:
Korsunsk[a]iya B[ogorodi]tsa - Korsun Mother of God

More about Vyaz: http://russianicons.wordpress.com/

She starts looking at me

Flesh-tones and highlights added
Still, the skin has turned out somewhat darker, (almost African) than originally "planned".
But then, she's in good company...

Częstochowska