Well that does it, if the West Texas flash can't figure it out it should be left alone.

I'll call it "see, speak, hear and cook no balance." How is that painting coming along by the way.

I havn't touched it since December or January I think. I had to take a break from it for commissions and now Im afraid to touch it again. So there it sits. I have about 6 paintings in progress and it's getting out of hand. Been taking all sorts of reference photos for when I move and wont have my favorite models....but I get all excited and start a new one after each session - even though I have so many to finish. And they are all on different supports so it's a different painting style sometimes. I'm just confusing the heck out of myself with too many paintings. I think my favorite part must be starting a painting. I will finish it though. (I think I can, I think I can)

Kim,

I am interested that you have multiple projects going on simultaneously! If I tried that, you would only be able to visit me at the institution every other Sunday betyween 2:00 and 2:15. AM.

You might share your processes in the Creativity - Time management thread ,as I think many members would be interested.

I second Terri's idea!
 

In fact, just to contribute more to Terri's idea, how about painting a colored shadow cast on the portrait? Can you imagine what it'll look like if you stand in front of a stained glass in church, with light shining through it and casting its image on your body?
Yeah, that's what i meant...and i certainly think that will make Terri's idea complete! :thumbsup:

How about making a border of the symbols around all four edges?

Something like this, perhaps?

I always thought there were something fishy about those little mermaids.

Allan

PS. Well maybe not?

Thanks Mike, I had a great time too. It is always wonderful to get together with people who have the same interests and are great company.

Just look at all this brain storming going on about where to put the yy symbol! It is so interesting to hear about all these different ideas.

Hi Mike,

is that the final proportion of the whole picture (in your drawing)? With the hat cropped? By the photo I found the top of the hat too interesting to be left out. What size the painting will be?

Ant

Ant,

For the composition of the drawing that you see, on a 20 x 16 inch canvas, the head would be approx. 7.3 inches.

As I look at the full photo image below, it seemed to tall for a head and shoulder painting. And when you include some space (not enough shown in the photo I think) above the top of the hat it becomes a little top heavy. I think if you were to go down to the waist and include the arms and hands the full hat would look more proper. My thinking was that there was enough of the hat left to be fully explained.

Thanks for the look, I too enjoy these compositional puzzles.

You can compare them below.

Yes, composition is always interesting.
Maybe with your artistic license you could incline the hat a bit so it can be shown - you can play with it even more than I did, roughly, in these images.
As for the yin-yang symbol, there is something mystical in the eyes of the model as she seems to be looking at something that is not real. You can use that at your service too, and suggest the yin-yang in the background, distorted or with some perspective.
That's what came up into my mind regarding this work.

Good luck. Interesting job you have here. I look forward to see how you will work it out.

Kind regards,

Ant