Grumpy old lady

Janet Kimantas · 11-20-2005, 03:14 PM

Well, it was long past time to do some painting from life, but the only person I could get to sit was this crabby lady. I'll give her credit - she hardly spoke at all and I got her for peanuts. I should probably put her in critiques, but it was just a quick exercise and I won't be fussing with it any more. It has been pointed out to me that I have commissions waiting...

Hope you like her! Janet

Carol Norton · 11-20-2005, 05:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Janet Kimantas

Well, it was long past time to do some painting from life, but the only person I could get to sit was this crabby lady. I'll give her credit - she hardly spoke at all and I got her for peanuts. I should probably put her in critiques, but it was just a quick exercise and I won't be fussing with it any more. It has been pointed out to me that I have commissions waiting...

Hope you like her! Janet

Well, I like her a lot! Well, I'd have to guess...let's see...she eats peanuts and she hardly spoke. Now, can she paint, too? Then why is she grumpy?

Janet Kimantas · 11-20-2005, 11:07 PM

Thanks for looking, Carol. I think she's just grumpy at me. I started to paint her with an enigmatic knowing half-smile, but when it turned into a smirk I wiped it off her face. She's been eating peanuts at me ever since. Good heavens it's hard to find good help. Thanks again, Janet.

Marcus Lim · 11-20-2005, 11:54 PM

Grumpy? I think your love for the person has lifted her spirits on the painting! I like the flow of greens and oranges on the face, notwithstanding the contrasts both colors can make!

Janet Kimantas · 11-21-2005, 07:40 AM

Hi Marcus. Yeah, green is definitely my colour, the rosy cheeks and nose I inherited. What I'd give for an alabaster complexion...

Alexandra Tyng · 11-21-2005, 10:14 AM

I think she looks pretty good, Janet. If this is what you look like when you're grumpy, you must look great smiling! Very nice values and colors, by the way. I think you should keep painting from life; I can already see an amazing difference and your innate talent is emerging in an awesome way.

Alex

Linda Brandon · 11-21-2005, 10:55 AM

Hi Janet, I think you have done a great job here and your model is a real keeper.

Working from life will improve one's brushwork, sharpen drawing skills, and help form a definite opinion about style. I see all this happening in your work which keeps getting better and better. It takes a lot of guts to post a self portrait from life and I admire you so much for doing this.

Janet Kimantas · 11-21-2005, 05:01 PM

Alex and Linda: you guys are just way too nice. Imagine saying something wonderful about the paintING, the paintER and the paintED all in the space of a couple of short sentences. Pretty awesome!
Painting from life really is another species, isn't it? I had an inkling of it when I took a photo of a still life set-up to continue painting from while not at home. I honestly didn't feel I could do it, that the photo and the reality were just too far apart. And this was just inanimate objects. I guess now I'll have to start paying people to spend time with me.
As far as "guts" are concerned, not really. Anyway, it was the first couple of postings that took guts.
Thanks, all.
Janet

Kimberly Dow · 11-29-2005, 10:03 AM

Oh, I really like this. I love the colors and the skin tones. It's very fresh. Great job!

Janet Kimantas · 11-30-2005, 08:37 PM

Thanks Kim! I like the colours too, even though there are drawing problems all over. Thanks for looking in. Janet