Arianne
 

I finished this one a few weeks ago - it's a present for Arianne's grandfather.... I'm not very happy with this one, it was a pretty tedious affair finishing it. I really didn't like the paper surface, it was too smooth - not enough tooth, etc.

I've known Arianne since she was about 12. She's a stunningly beautiful young lady now at 20 years of age. I did a charcoal drawing of her when she was 15 - I'm not sure if I ever posted it here - if I can find it, I'll post it in this thread. I'm,now doing a painting of her, a 3/4 figurative work - kind of ambitious for me as I have never done a figurative painting before - and I'm anxious to see how it turns out.

Anyway...Charcoal on thinted paper w/ white highlights; approx 16" X 20"

This one is a bit wierd, but it was a while ago when I was just getting back into working representationally. It's interesting for me to see the difference in my work between then and now - and the difference in Arianne.

David,

Both are beautiful. Though you've progressed, I can see the beginnings of your particular vision in the first drawing. Both show your sincerity, insightfulness, and appreciation of the person you are drawing. Yes, she's a very attractive young woman, but she's not just a pretty face. You can see into her eyes and get a feeling for who she is. I feel the same way about your drawings of your students. Now I can't wait to see the painting!

David,

I like both paintings as well, although the last one you did shows your full command of your skills. It is great that you had the opportunity to paint Arianne at different stages of her life.

Wow!
 

David,

I have to agree with Alex and Enzie that you have always been an unusually fabulous and insightful artist, and that you have come into full fruition of yout talents now. Both Ariannes are exemplary, but your new one is particularly stunning in her pose (despite your frustrations with the paper)! Kudos and congratuations on this success!

Garth

David--

These are great...I especially appreciate the attitude of perfect restraint in your use of the white accents.

Great work!

These are beautifully handled, David I especially like the carefully tousled hair in the most recent version, it's so sensitively rendered.

Thank you all so much!

After doing this one I've been musing on...beauty - feminine beauty in particular. I've been thinking that there is a generally accepted notion of beauty that is cultural, contemporary - particular to a certain time or place. But as an artist, I'm finding that there is another kind of beauty - a beauty that is timeless, classical (and the question here is: is this a case of us artists being influenced by what went before, the paintings of bygone eras depicting what was then fashionable beauty? - or is there a "timeless" element that past artists were revealing?) I think most people would say Arianne is an exceptionally beautiful young lady - she could be a successful model if she wanted to - and yet, when I was doing her portrait, I wasn't so inspired in the process of rendering her face. Conversely, there have been other women/girls I have drawn/painted who, though they would probably not be considered a great beauty by many, they have got something...I'm thinking of Diana - in real life, I'm sure many would say she's attractive, but not gorgeous - yet I was so inspired in doing her portrait ....was it a different kind of beauty, or a hidden beauty somehow...? I don't know...

Does any of this make sense? Do you experience this?

David

Your work is always a pleasure to see, David. I can understand the tedious part, but again, you have pulled off a very engaging portrait of a beautiful young woman.

Jean

These are divine David! I especially like the first one.
I'm always a bit nervous when doing beautiful people - I always have that feeling that I won't be able to do them justice. You seem to have no problem with that!