Lyndsey

[Kimberly Dow]

Oil 20x30" on ABS panel
entitled "Firmness of Purpose"

The first photo has been touched up to get rid of the glare I couldn't seem to shake, the second is untouched taken at an angle. The true color is something between these two.

[Geary Wootten]

You are really becoming prolific at your work Kimberly! They are just flying in here. (of course compared to my threads....a shaved ape with a paint brush would do more work than I do! )

This has great emotion to it. The way you've formed the arms and hands under your treatment of the lacey sleeves is speaking volumes to me about her contemplation of life. It's a beautifully serene but firmly resolved illusion of her thoughts at the time of this capture.

It's very a very warm mood Kim.

Geary

[Chuck Yokota]

Hi Kimberly,
Stunning! This is a beautiful piece of work. I like your composition.

[Garth Herrick]

Kimberly,

This is a wonderful, strong composition, and powerful, emotional painting. I love the limited color theme which seems to give the painting more focus. Your figure is particularly well painted. Where did you get the idea for this one?

I often have to take my pictures at an angle as well; and then straighten them out in Photoshop to a head on, perpendicular view. It works most of the time.

Congratulations,

Garth

[Linda Brandon]

Kimberley,

This is wonderful, pensive and strong. I love the thoughtful face against the dark background. My favorite of yours!

I was feeling guilty earlier about steering you to ABS but this painting has turned out to be a true stunner.

[Mike Dodson]

Kimberley,

I agree with Linda that this is also my favorite of yours. Great composition and I like the rustic look of the door.

[Kimberly Dow]

Thank you everyone - I appreciate it!

Linda, I started a new painting on canvas last night and I am just sick at the lack of richness compared to the ABS. It did take a lot more work to get this done. It slowed me down, but maybe I needed that. I appreciate that you suggested it! I may scrap the one I started last night and start over on the ABS.

Garth, I am all into the textures at our new home in West Texas. It's a ranch and away from the beautiful house are chicken coops, a slaughter house and all sorts of old out-buildings. I know I wanted to use those in paintings, but just vague ideas. I know many of the artists here plan out their painting down to the last detail, but when I do it always changes after the model comes. This girl has a thing with her eyebrows that can make her look mad. I had to keep saying "Eyebrows!" to her to remind her to lift them a bit. I finally decided to go with it and work with her natural body language. She is very self-confident (the homecoming queen and all that) and seems to own everything she looks at. I did slightly vary her eyebrows and mouth in the painting - just by a tiny bit to make her look less angry. So that's it - the painting comes from the model herself and then I try to make some sort of narrative out of it. I like seeing how people read it. Patricia read it just like I did in WIP (she looks to me like she is surveying HER land) and that gave me my title, but my husand on the other hand thinks she looks like a girl just waiting to get off the ranch. That part is fun - seeing how others interpret the story.

Thank you all again, what a nice shot of confidence that comes when peers you admire like your work!

[Terri Ficenec]

This is simply beautiful Kim!

Here I thought she was standing there thinking of all the things she still had to get done... but then maybe am just projecting!

[Chris Saper]

Dear Kim,

This is also my favorite of yours so far. Your composition and value-massing are really beautifully thought-out, as is your execution.

Congratulations!

[Kimberly Dow]

Thanks Terri & Chris!