Emily, Reclining Nude

[Janel Maples]

40 x 60 Oil on Linen

I painted this for the Rahr West Art Museum's Manitowoc County,
and museum members art exhibit running the month of August 2006.

Not sure what I will do with this very large painting when the exhibit is over, but I will cross that bridge when I get to it.

Thanks for looking.

Janel

[Alexandra Tyng]

Janel, this must have been quite an undertaking. The skin tones are very real and she looks so relaxed and matter-of-fact. I love that bench. The peacock feather looks familiar, too. Can we have some closeups?

Originally Posted by Janel Maples

Not sure what I will do with this very large painting when the exhibit is over, but I will cross that bridge when I get to it.

I know what you mean, Janel! Every time I paint a really large one I wonder what I'm going to do with it. My Harpist is 68" x 44" and I realized I couldn't get her into my car if I framed it. But sometimes a subject just asks to be painted large.

[Janel Maples]

Yes, Alex, for me this was quite and undertaking but it went remarkably fast after I finished the portrait of three sibblings. One subject was a treat.

I apologize for not being able to send closeups at the moment. I already delivered the painting to the museum and I only took this photo of it. It is too bad, there are some subtle transitions to her body that no longer show up when I resized the image in PS. Perhaps when I get it back next month I can get some better pictures of it by taking it outside to shoot.

This is 48 x 68 when framed. It did fit nicely into my van to deliver. It is a good thing my children talked me into getting a van. A year ago I was driving a VW beetle. That wouldn't have worked.

[Richard Bingham]

I've seen this before . . . nearly a ringer for a painting by Kim Dow, which has me curious. What's the point of reference for this? Are you both working from the same model/photos ?

[Janel Maples]

Yes, Richard, you are correct. This is my model and my reference. Kim liked the image and requested permission to paint it for her show in Chicago and I granted it to her. Unfortunately, we both painted it at nearly the same time. But, I guess I will take it as a compliment that it looks like hers. I am a big fan of her work.

[Terri Ficenec]

Janel this is very nicely done. . . though hard to see well in this tiny format!
(So hard to resize horizontal images especially to just 400 pixels or less) I agree it would be wonderful to see some closer shots. . .

I especially like how you've handled some of the textures. . . that ruff on the pillow for instance, and that so subtle vase of peacock feathers behind the bench. I agree with Alex about her flesh tones too. Nice work!

[Janel Maples]

Terri,

Thank you for your comments. I think it is very interesting. I always seem to get more praise on the areas I barely remember painting. For some reason I don't think as hard about them so they end up very painterly and loose. Perhaps the fact that people tend to point this out to me as being their favorite part is telling me something.

"Janel, loosen up"

Here is an attempt at getting a close up from the original photo I took.
I hope this looks OK.

[Sharon Knettell]

Janel,

This a quite lovely and well designed piece. You must have spent a lot of time and care working out the details for the compostion, and it shows.

The lighting on the figure is beautifully done as well.

[Janel Maples]

Sharon,

Thank you SO MUCH for noticing!

I worked VERY hard on the composition. I also worked hard on the surrounding colors. And I have to tell you, your voice (or written words because I have never actually heard you say this to me) of planning compositions and complimentary colors AHEAD OF TIME were talking to me while I worked it. The lighting technique I learned from Marvin (along with everything else about this piece) so I need to give credit where that is due.

I am SO PLEASED with your remarks as I value your opinion a great deal. Thanks for the boost.