Veil paintings were developed by Rudolf Steiner.  He did extensive research on the subject of colour. His colour theory is based on an understanding of the “language” of colour and its relationship to light and darkness. He described the “activity” between light and darkness as being the language of the soul. And to him, colours spoke a language more universal and archetypal than any spoken word.

Veil paintings are made by thinning watercolours down to a very light value and then applying one at a time in several layers. After each layer we allow the paint to dry. This requires great patience of the class. It also requires the students to paint slower as we prop the paintings up and rely on gravity to allow the paint to flow down so that we can pick up the last stroke of paint with the next stroke in order to stop streaks. In this way the process becomes calming and meditative.

Each layer is transparent and shows the layers beneath it. As the painting progresses the colours intensify and mix. The painting starts out with no preconceived idea of what the final result will be. Instead, the students patiently apply “veils” of colour in varying patterns until an image or motif reveals itself. The process demands both mindful attention and intention and can nourish the soul and enliven the spirit.

We started with a veiling exercise using only straight lines and only curved lines. We a greatly depleted class due to flu, those remaining then had an opportunity to create their own picture. These are the results.