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Deja Vu?
Dear Marvin and Michael,
It was very kind of you both to take time to study this and make your valuable comments.
I do not recall seeing Mr. Sanden's lovely painting with a bannister that looks almost exactly like ours! I noticed his is larger than my planned 48" x 28." This would allow 5" head in the current composition. Is bigger better? The client certainly has the wall space. However, her heirs may not.
What attracted me to this pose was twofold: I want to put this special lady "up on a pedestal", and I like the arm recalling the curve of the bridal staircase, giving her graceful support.
While Gillian has classic English beauty and is very perky in character, she is also a grandmother battling cancer.
I agree with the "stiff" problem Marvin mentions and was hoping to overcome this with composition of the elements surrounding her, and paint. If I have enough lost & found edges along the skirt (made possible by the risers in stairs) could that compensate for the basically straight pose?
The client and I looked at photo studies of her decending and decided against this as her skirt is rather thick and somewhat stiff and does not show the form well underneath. Also the detail on the bottom is exquisite gold embroidery reminiscent of her years in China, which we agreed should be included.
The emsemble does have its own jacket which we played with in various positions. However, she was uncomfortable holding anything in her hand, and would never drag it.
I actually preferred a classic seated pose we tried in a flowing skirt, but she thinks, "That looks too much like a French salon." She prefers being depicted "standing on [her own] two feet." A head and shoulders or three-quarter is also out for the same reason. The full-length "socialite" pose won her vote and her husband agrees.
The photo source shows how I used Paintshop to darken part of the actual window before painting my study. What I could add is the sweep of the shelf that forms the corner of this dramatic staircase which would add depth behind her.
There are actually flowers on that shelf as well which could be softly introduced. Maybe I can convince her to hold a small one? Would this be too cliche'?
I simplified the composition in this study to draw more attention to her face and to add a painterly sophistication to the composition. Can this hold up in the large version? (I have been taught that if the big values are right, I can then add additional details within them later for interest.)
OBJECTIVE: I am going for movement around her as she stands to face it all - beautifully!
The color study is next, Marvin. I will post when ready.
Let's see what she thinks today.
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