Ken Garcia Olaes, with brush in hand and oil paint at the ready, meticulously renders his interpretation of William-Adolphe Bouguereau's masterpiece onto a 36x48 inch canvas, within the halls of The Chrysler Museum of Art in Norfolk, Virginia.
Ken Garcia Olaes had always been fascinated by the works of William-Adolphe Bouguereau, and none more so than "Orestes Pursued by the Furies." He would often make trips to the Chrysler Museum of Art in Norfolk, Virginia just to stand in front of the painting and study its every detail. But it wasn't until he decided to make a copy of the painting that his obsession truly began.
Every Sunday for four months straight,\
Ken would wake up early and make the journey to the museum
Once there, he would set up his easel and paints and begin to study the painting in earnest. He took meticulous notes on the brushstrokes, the color palette, and the composition, and even made small studies in his sketchbook to try and imitate the master's technique.
As the weeks went by, Ken's copy of the painting began to take shape. The figures came to life on the canvas, and the colors seemed to glow with an inner light. He knew that he had captured something of the magic of the original, and he was filled with a sense of pride and accomplishment.
Finally, after four months of hard work, Ken's copy of "Orestes Pursued by the Furies" was complete. It was purchased by Kishibashi, and even though Ken had put his heart and soul into the painting, he knew that it was time to let it go and move on to his next project. But the experience of copying one of his favorite paintings will always hold a special place in his heart.
