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Nancy Bea Miller
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Here is a portrait I finished recently of my friend Nancy Bea, who is an artist known primarily for her still life and portraits/figurative works. I first did a color study from life, then photographed her at her kitchen table with her notebook in hand. I was attracted by the colors and by her contemplative mood. I included some details. This is my first attempt at Photoshop so I'm hoping the colors look okay.
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This makes me think of a modern update of a lot of Mary Cassat's paintings. Women doing casual every day things. Similar coloration too, soft pastels, etc. Very nice!
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Nancy Bea!
Dear Alex,
I am still groping for the right words to express my love for this thoughtful, inspired painting. I know Nancy Bea well too, and cannot imagine a better and more natural capture of her as a friend and fellow artist. You have given so much depth and context to her personality with these fully integral surroundings that evoke a functional sybiosis in their conversant relationship. The harmonious color theme of soft yellows and pale muted blues, being both quiet and playful at the same time, offers a revealing window into her intellectual intensity, and her effervescent creativity. This is such a multisensory treat. I am about to strike up a familiar conversation and exchange of ideas with your portrait and it feels like a perfectly natural thing to do! You know, I would love the opportunity to see this one in life. .......It is already endowed with a wonderful penetrating life! Bravo, Garth |
Beautiful....
oodles of mood! and well executed! I want more! Tony |
I feel like I have the vocabulary and artistic education of a two year old next to Garth's response so rather than really pegging myself as a complete idiot let me just say that I think your painting is beautiful.
Well, better go. I have to go buy the book "How to Speak So People Won't Think You're Stupid" which I believe is on sale. |
Thank you, Michele, Tony, Garth & Lisa!
Lisa, forget buying the book, your portrait of the woman in the sari just spoke more eloquently than words. In fact all of you are superb artists and I value your comments more than I can say, so now I'm feeling a bit tongue-tied. By the way, I forgot to say the portrait is 26" x 36". |
Oh, yes, and Garth, you are welcome to come over to my studio any time. I'd like to see some more of your work in person too.
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I don't know Nancy Bea, but, despite that, DITTO WHAT GARTH SAID.
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In Person!
Well, I had the pleasure of meeting Alex today at her studio. She is very well set up with a generous flood of north light streaming through a bank of period double hung windows. Alex is as genuine an individual as one will ever meet, and we had an endless conversation about all aspects of art.
This portrait of Nancy Bea Miller just sparkled on her studio wall. The colors are even fresher in life, as you might imagine. It is always satisfying to see original art in person, just in front of you! Thanks Alex, Garth |
Alex this is wonderful. In addition to the great gesture of your friend, it looks like you got to have tons of fun with all kinds of subject matter.
Lovely! |
This is an inspiring portrait of your friend and speaks volumes of passion. Well done.
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Dear Alexandra,
I am very fond of this painting! I've really come back to look at it several times and find something new to love about it each time. The colors really grab the eye and I really like the painterly style of it. But the thing I really love about this is how "real" it is. It is so cool that you included the extra things that make up her life. I am just crazy about the children's drawings on the wall behind her! Even though I don't know her, your painting has really brought her to life for me! Congratulations, Julie ________ VAPIR NO2 |
Thanks to all
Cindy, Beth, Ngaire and Julie, I really appreciate what you said about this portrait! You picked up on the instant flash of "gotta paint this!" that I felt when I was sitting across from her at the table. The whole scene with all its objects and drawings on the wall was a complete composition, or maybe a still life with a person in it, asking to be painted. Add to this the fact that Nancy Bea paints still life, and I couldn't resist.
Garth, it was so enjoyable talking with you yesterday. Thanks so much for taking the time to come to my studio and lugging that heavy painting along. It is absolutely stunning in person! Hope it survived the rainstorm. Thanks so much again for your support and encouraging words! Alex |
Terrific painting, well deserved award!
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You're very talented, aren't you. I'm so envious! I want to do that too!
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Sharon, thanks! I'd heard somewhere that if you've entered a piece three times without success, then you should stop trying. But my artist friends around here kept saying it was their favorite, so I thought, "Okay, I'll just save it for the Woodmere next year and see what happens." And voila! So three times isn't always the charm.
Thomasin, oh, you are too much! You do what YOU do so very, very well, of course you don't want to do what I do. You should have seen the junk I was doing when I was in my 30s. You are SO much better it isn't funny! |
Congratulations, Alex! It's very well deserved and it is one of my favorite of yours too!
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Marina, thanks so much! I'm flattered you all thought this old thread was worth dredging up.
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Oh Alex,
You are so modest! I was in a three person show with you when we were in our thirties. You were GOOD! So good. I was afraid of you then. We had not met yet. I did threaten to dredge up this thread, at the opening, but you did not want me to so I did not. You are too modest. Congratulations again (I congratulated you at the opening and award ceremony). It was great to see Nancy Bea in person as well. You have received a very fine honor at an especially noteworthy show (in my humble opinion). :D There are only seventy (well, I can vouch for 69 of them if you know what I mean) very interesting artists featured in this Woodmere exhibition. Perhaps their best show yet! I have a picture. I will have to find it and post it. Garth |
Oh Alex, I love it! It is so humanly lovely and personal and full of life. Its beautiful!
Dianne |
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Thanks, Garth and Dianne! |
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(Thanks again for your comments, though and your interest. Very much appreciated!) |
Thomasin, thank you again. Your words mean a lot. However, you do things with your painting that I admire, too. I guess we could call it mutual admiration.
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Sorry, Garth and Dianne, I didn't see your posts.
Garth, unfortunately I never got to see that show (in 1988), but I heard all about the other talented artist, and then finally years later you showed me some of your work that was in it. It's very, very impressive! I have to say, though, I think we have both come a long way since then, and hopefully you are no longer afraid of me. Dianne, thank you so much! That is exactly what I wanted to say in the portrait, so I am glad it came across. |
Alex --(coming late to this) Congratulations on the award! This is one of my favorites of yours too!
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Thanks, Terri. :sunnysmil
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