Gracia & Madison

Linda Nelson · 02-28-2004, 12:20 AM

Hi again everyone,

This is an oil at 42" wide x 38" high of Gracia ("grashia") and Madison, 3 and 5 years old. My hope was to convey the their personalities - Madison is self confident, mature, smart and a total sweetheart. Gracia is a sweetheart as well, but in a completely mischevious, "ball of energy" sort of way. She's the free spirit while Madison comes off as almost surprisingly elegant for her age. They are both holding their favorite dolls, which I hope will endear them all the more to the painting as time goes by.

I try to change my style to fit the "flavor" of the client, be a bit of a chameleon for each client. So in this project I tried to leave the composition "understated" - a minimalist setting, and a constrained value and color range. It matched the client.
i hope you guys are happy with it. Thanks for letting me share it.

take care

Linda Nelson · 02-28-2004, 11:30 AM

close up

William Whitaker · 02-28-2004, 02:58 PM

Good work Linda. I like all that space around them. It gives them room to breathe and to wiggle.

I'm sure you too have been impressed just how difficult it is to paint large expanses of blank space successfully. Color, texture, value and brushwork has to be just right.

You succeeded very nicely.

Bill

Linda Nelson · 02-28-2004, 09:02 PM

Thanks so much - that means a LOT. I was astounded at the challenge of making the background.At least it was so interesting to see how the subtlest of color and value shifts would dramatically affect the whole composition. One thing I hope will come through as the client look at this time and time again, is that that background is anything but a bland monotone field. It's composed of almost imperceptable changes of turquoise, violet, sap green, and alizarin, with the cool tones closest to the face and the warm tone further out. I felt this helped push the girls off the canvas more in dimension, while making the rest of the field as quiet as possible.

Denise Hall · 03-10-2004, 12:42 AM

Linda,

I have been meaning to comment on this portrait. I have to tell you that since I saw it I have thought so much about it. The way the skin of the little girls lights up from the background tones is so appealing to me. I want to paint something in the very same color scheme as a result of seeing this. It is so fresh and has an illustration quality that is perfect for a children's portrait.

The background is just superior and your composition has been worked out perfectly as well. I think the "light attitude" of the girls further contributes to the entire conformity of the painting.

OK, so I like it - but I really did want to let you know the impact it has had on me. Thank you for posting it.

Denise

Virginia Branch · 03-10-2004, 09:17 AM

It is a beautiful portrait and it seems so different from your other works. Your clients must be so pleased.

Virginia

Linda Nelson · 03-11-2004, 11:23 AM

Thanks Denise and Michele

Denise, I'm so glad this has given you some ideas! The piece in real life is more subtle in coloring and contrast than here, which gives it a calm feeling.

Yes Michele, I try to match the composition to the client, so hopefully my paintings have a common "something", but at the same time I try for them to reflect the owner's style as much as my own. I like that challenge in fact.

thanks again