Normally I don't make New Year's resolutions but this year my hope/resolution is to take a plein air trip to some place like the Grand Tetons. Along with that I hope I can continue to study with David Leffel, and two other landscape and figure artists. Ralph Oberg has been recommended as a great plein air teacher and I love his paintings so I may try to study with him. Maybe putting this in writing will help me to make these goals actually experiences. As my wise friend said, "eventually is a myth, just do it." I think that is my mantra for 2010.
This little painting was started from a quick sketch during open studio. I've been tweaking it in my studio by trying to keep with the originally idea of large masses of simple shapes and value. The lighting was wild. There was natural and spot lights which washed out most of her back and side.
8"x6" Oil on Linen
9 comments:
Beautiful painting in its 'simplicity' & texture; the kind that makes you go back again & again (& see that it's not so simple after all). Great ideas for the new years! Hope all your wishes for this year come true!
Captivating! The expression and the colors are a treat to explore.
These new figures are so wonderful...so full of mass and volume. And that is one seriously complicated light set-up!
I like the idea of putting it in writing. I will follow suit!
Lovely portrait, Susan!! Atmospheric, bright and thoughtful.
May your year be filled with good paintings and a trip to the Grand Tetons. It has been one of my dreams to go there, too. Let me know what you think...
:)
Happy New Year!
I've read that in order to make things happen, we need to write our ideas down, no matter what. I see Grand Tetons in yours future. Another beautiful painting, Susan!
Susan, Love this portrait -- great sense of immediacy and transitory expression.
Hope your dream trips come true!
Happy New Year Roxanne, Honor, Karen, Melinda, Janelle, and Edgar!!!! Thank you so much for your inspirational words of encouragment towards my New Year's Resolution and my little painting. I feel quite determined to start 2010 fearlessly. Here's to many happy and absorbing hours with paint!
and to painting fearlessly, and a year of great adventures for us all! Cheers! :-)
magical colours Susan, i especially like the red reflected light on the side of her face and how you have used the colours in the background. r.
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