Monday, November 22, 2010

Bathing Beauty; Sleeping Sitting Up



Drawn from life, yesterday afternoon.

Bathing Beauty is oil paint and oil pastel on canvas, 24"x36".

Sleeping Sitting Up is oil pastel on clear gessoed doorskin, 12"x12".


About these:

The model chose her costumes. The first was an early 20th century swimsuit. I imagined a summer day at a beach with a rollercoaster.

In the second pose, she got into a state that reminded me very much of those times when, exhausted, you fall asleep despite yourself.

12 comments:

  1. Like you're work . It reminds me of a woman in Scotland whose blog I am following. Her group meets in a pub and draws from nude models. I told her only in Scotland!

    These are very good. I tried once to draw from a model - I was not very successful. Went back to photography!

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  2. Bathing beauty. I love the lay out of shape and color and contrast. The agitation is very toulouse (so is her red hair). Black can be very effective as a color. Mattise knew that

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  3. Thanks, Helen. But I wouldn't be so quick to give up drawing just because it didn't go well at first. Drawing is a basic human activity and it is definitely one that can be learned/improved upon.

    The concept of the naked pub drawing: love it. Actually, there are similar activities in other places, like Dr. Sketchy's Anti-Art School, in NYC and other places, including Austin, that involve bars and drawing live models.

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  4. Pa, thanks. And I'm listening to/watching the Varnedie talk on Rose; fascinating man. You're lucky to have known him.

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  5. The second reminds me of when I get my hair washed, and the total relaxation I feel. (But now I'm thinking her back would be wet.)

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  6. AH, true. But at least she's relaxed.

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  7. Quite a change from top to bottom pics. Hard to believe it's the same person.

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  8. Banjo, you're right. That's because it's not the same person in the two paintings, it's the same model.

    One reason I don't name the paintings after the model is that these aren't likenesses (like photos or conventional portraits).

    The model serves as a starting place for the art. Frequently, the finished piece doesn't bear much resemblance to the model.

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  9. Excellente
    Work
    Tank you for sharing

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  10. I loved "Sleeping Sitting Up"
    reminded me a little Toulouse-Lautrec
    ... much stronger!

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