Capturing the soul
 

Okay, back on topic here. (I have questions for you later Lon, re: Portland) I know a young man who is from Korea and teaches martial arts in this area. I've asked him to pose for me as he's in incredible shape physically, has extraordinary features and is covered in amazing tattoos! He respectfully refused because in his culture (and spiritual beliefs), having his image painted or photographed would steal part of his soul.

In a way we do steal something from our subjects, but I would hope that we give them part of our soul in return. I know that I invest a great deal of energy and try to open myself completely to the person I am drawing. I try to pick up everything that I can in a very short time by watching all movements and body language as well as just looking at features. What I wanted from this young man was his strength and his ability to command respect with his "presence" alone. What I wanted to give him was my respect for his accomplishments. (He was also one gorgeous male!) Oh, to be 25 again.

Get to know your subject
 

I know this should be obvious to many of you, but this was my workshop experience. Because of the size of our group, we had two models. I chose the blond diva, and on day one we warmed up by drawing charcoal quick life studies from both models.

Maybe because of first day jitters, maybe because I didn't know anything about the blond model, I struggled with that drawing. I had driven the other model up from Tampa, and coincidentally did not have any trouble at all nailing her likeness.

Lunch break came, and a small group of us went out for pizza, including the blond model. Over the course of lunch, I listened to her talk about herself, her children, her passion for her work, her passion for classes she took in college, all things that more clearly fleshed out her persona.

That night in my sketchbook, I did some thumbnails (the next day we were to start the oil painting), and I also took 15 minutes to freewrite what I knew about her. This was a very useful exercise.

I will post the painting eventually; I do want to bring it to as high a degree of finish as I can so it's not appropriate yet. But of all the portraits in the workshop, mine captured a likeness that none of the others had. I'm convinced that a portrait captures an emotional connection to a person. If we don't as artists have that connection, it shows in the painting.

Any thoughts?

Mari, I know exactly what you are saying. It actually put a tear in my eye.

Last year a dear pal, who was one of my favorite golf pros was diagnosed with brain cancer, had all the surgery and we all thought he had it beaten. I must tell you I often teased him about being one of the girls, because he worried about his weight just like my obsessive friends.

His tumor returned and the worst happened. When I went to say goodbye at the Hospice, I saw Wade