Monday, November 3, 2014

Sun Shade

Sun Shade
Image size 22" x 15"
Watercolor

Last week's painting was painted on a paper parasol from my niece's wedding.  This week's painting is of another niece at that same wedding using one of the parasols.  I guess it would have made more sense chronologically to post this one with the unpainted parasol and then the painted parasol but I didn't think about that until right now.

I haven't painted a portrait for almost two decades and even back then, I think I only painted three or four and they weren't very good. Painting a portrait is very stressful for me and I'm not really very happy with this one.  First, it looks nothing like my niece (she's so much prettier) and it's also very tight.  I was able to start to relax as I painted it by telling myself "it's only a piece of paper" over and over and in the end, I was enjoying the process.  I am looking forward to trying another portrait soon.

12 comments:

  1. OMGosh, Nancy! this is a fantastic portrait! After looking at this, its hard to believe its been so long that you painted a portrait! PLEASE do more...Love the parasol and her expression is beautiful..and doing it in watercolor would be stressful to me. LOL Amazing piece!!!

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    1. Thank you so much Hilda. Coming from you, this is very high praise!

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  2. Bonjour chère Nancy,

    Le portrait n'est pas simple du tout et je trouve celui-ci très joli, même si vous jugez qu'il ne ressemble pas à votre nièce. Il dégage une grande délicatesse et une pureté fragile avec un regard rempli de tendresse.
    J'aime...



    Gros bisous ☂

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  3. Nancy, it's fantastic! I love the pose and the expression on her face, and the composition, with the parasol angled that way... it's wonderful! I think you could do a parasol series. I'd love to see more!

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    1. When I saw this photo of her, I fell in love with the look on her face. I didn't quite capture it though. She was looking up at her husband in such an adoring way.

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  4. I think she is very pretty and you handled her hand beautifully, Nancy!

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  5. Dear Nancy - it may not look like your niece but it looks like a lovely painting. The deep greens in the lower background and the light parasol all add to a wonderful composition. Just love the way you placed her in the painting - so interesting. I think portraits must be so difficult to do in regards to likeness. Thank you so much for sharing.

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  6. I like this, focal point in golden mean area. This looks darn good to me Nancy. Know what you mean about likeness eluding us. I am hoping that practice will help. This was a tough angle too with her kind of looking up. Kudos to you for giving this a go

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    1. Thank you Nelvia. This pose was really hard to do. I couldn't see her mouth or far eye very clearly.

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