Live and unplugged
 

Hi.

Last weekend two friends and I had a booth at the local Christmas Craft and Fine Art Show. One lady had jewelry, one had stained glass and I had portraits and still lives (and one landscape). Since the sponsors were really trying to promote the Fine Art end of the spectrum, they offered us free space and a good location if I would demo some painting. I had been so busy in the two weeks prior to the show trying to repaint every single thing I had ever produced that I didn't have much prepared for a demo. For the whole first morning I forgot how to paint at all. By after-lunch-time I dragged my supplies out and got started on this 9 x 12" canvas. I had to justify our extra space and heck, if you're going to crash and burn it might as well be during your initial public offering. This took between 3 and 4 hours the first day and about half an hour (drawn out for effect) the second. It was a bit of a hit, as judged by the painted wooden Santa crowd. Now you can be the judge!

Thanks, Janet

Janet,

I would have stood and watched. You are so daring and getting better and better.

Allan

Beautiful!
 

I, too, would have stood and watched every minute! Your skin tones are so beautiful. What was your palette?

Oh, this is beautiful and fresh! With people watching as well - way to go!

This is really lovely, Janet! Such wonderful fresh color and a confident painterly style.

Now make her sitting outside on some steps with some flowers, increase size to 24" x 30", and charge at least $2,500 (American). ;)

Thanks Allan, Carol and Kim. I would have loved you in the peanut gallery. Although I got some really good advice centered around "stop now, don't do any more". Carol: titanium white, yellow ochre pale, terra rosa, permanent alizarin, permanent rose. burnt sienna, permanent sap green, cerulean and cobalt blue for the flesh, naples yellow and raw umber in the hair. And Kimberly ( :sunnysmil :) :sunnysmil ) is responsible for the wonderful colours in the darks. Yay Kim.

Linda: there is not an icon of a smilie rolling around the floor bumping into walls laughing for you. Maybe one day with the nice fees. This is not a country with a tradition of portraiture, or even much in the way of traditional realist art. It may be a bit of a tough haul. However, I did get three commissions in the days following the show. Yep. A cottage and two dogs. *Sigh*

Janet, this is wonderful! I am so impresed with you and with your work!

Alex

Janet,

I love this painting. It is reminiscent of Sir Thomas Lawrence's "Calmady Children". That is great company to keep.

Richard! Calmady Children! I had to look it up! Amazing painting! Wouldn't it be wonderful to create something like that? When was that painted? I don't suppose they had digital cameras back then...

Alex, thanks for taking such good care of me.

Janet

WOW! That is just beautiful. It made me feel young for about 10 seconds and then my arthritis kicked in. What a great painting of a beautiful child.

Thanks Lisa. Please don't mention the arthritis. The achey season is in full swing! You know you're in trouble when it hurts in places where you don't even have places. Janet

ooh ooh ooh. Perfect place for a quote. Immortal singer/songwriter/poet/novelist/Canadian icon Leonard Cohen: "I ache in the places where I used to play". Perfect.

Janet-- Good for you and with an audience to boot! Beautiful, fresh skin tones. You've really captured the feel of fresh air and sunshine.

Thanks Terri. Just trying to organize everything I'm learning. Phew, there's a lot! Janet