The Misjudged Monarch
Original painting by Chris Shopland, Bristol-born artist with a vision reaching far beyond the UK. Created in henna décor acrylic on a 10 x 14 inch deep-edge canvas.
This piece carries a distinctly regal presence, evoking strength, mystery, and quiet authority, with a touch of strange and mystique. A darker palette is used to explore the interplay of shadow and light, allowing the illuminated areas to emerge with striking depth and drama. To allow light to look at its brightest, the rest needs to go darker.
Painted over a previous work, the surface retains the echoes of what came before, with underlying textures adding richness and history to the composition. The acrylic has been handled almost like oil paint—worked when nearly dry and congealed, then scraped and moved across the canvas—to build a tactile, atmospheric scene that feels both raw and refined.
The result is a powerful image layered with mood, texture, and an unmistakable sense of majesty.
The Misjudged Monarch
Original painting by Chris Shopland, Bristol-born artist with a vision reaching far beyond the UK. Created in henna décor acrylic on a 10 x 14 inch deep-edge canvas.
This piece carries a distinctly regal presence, evoking strength, mystery, and quiet authority, with a touch of strange and mystique. A darker palette is used to explore the interplay of shadow and light, allowing the illuminated areas to emerge with striking depth and drama. To allow light to look at its brightest, the rest needs to go darker.
Painted over a previous work, the surface retains the echoes of what came before, with underlying textures adding richness and history to the composition. The acrylic has been handled almost like oil paint—worked when nearly dry and congealed, then scraped and moved across the canvas—to build a tactile, atmospheric scene that feels both raw and refined.
The result is a powerful image layered with mood, texture, and an unmistakable sense of majesty.
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