yoga series

Tricia Migdoll · 05-06-2007, 04:30 AM

FIRST LIGHT - oil on canvas - 70cm x 90cm
EARTHED - oil on linen 90cm x 115cm
SURRENDER - oil on linen 90cm x 115cm

These are now hanging in our small local gallery. However, any helpful feedback offered can be carried over to my future projects.

Thanks for looking.

Sharon Knettell · 05-06-2007, 09:50 AM

Tricia,

What a beautiful inspired series. I do not want to quibble either with your theme or draughmanship.

I do think, however these figures could be more intregrated into a back ground and a color theme, even a subtle earthy one. As your model looks to be of mixed race, I had trouble finding something to show you. You figures should to reflect the environment they are in.

Looking at the Bougereau nude, you can see the subtle reflections of the surrounding foliage in her skin-tones. The Sargent figure just melts into the background. The Marie-Guillemine Benoist painting of a black woman uses a triadic color system to enliven the picture. A triadic color theme is simply a triangle placed on the color wheel and color picked from the points. In this case red, yellow and blue. You can also see the color of the yellow reflected in her skin. Sargent uses lovely subtle blue purples in the background, a beautiful complementary color to her orange yellow skin-tones.

I think in your seated figure you might look well in Sargent's backdrop as the skin-tones are similar. You have a dark green and a light blue that is too harsh a color separation and is distracting. Since her skin is quite orange a rich blue purple as in the Sargent would have worked well. I generally do a color study to try and get a feeling of luminosity and harmony.

Another point, I think the wave overpowers your figure. The figure could have been a bit bigger or the wave softened to push it back. Both the figure and the wave are competing for attention.

I think with a little more attention to the overall color harmony, you would have a consistently beautiful body of work.

I hope that this is constructive.

Sharon Knettell · 05-06-2007, 12:30 PM

Tricia,

I neglected to mention how beautiful and beautifully done, the seated figure's head is.

Tricia Migdoll · 05-06-2007, 05:12 PM

Thank you Sharon, These are excellent points to think about next time. Your chosen examples too, are most helpful in getting your point across. Without them, i may not have completely understood your meaning.

Yes, my model was a beautiful young woman from India. She was an absolute delight to paint.

Thanks again. Most appeciated.

Sharon Knettell · 05-06-2007, 09:03 PM

There is fortunately a revival of classical painting and drawing techniques. However, color has become a stepchild, it is simply added to form. Color harmonies are little understood and utilized today, many paintings are monochromatic . That is why, under the new influence of the beautiful and colorful Asian prints, clothing, fans etc. the Impressionists broke loose from form in the 19th century. In Asian art, since form was not paramount or important, color became very sophisticated. Degas, Manet, Monet, Whistler, Frieseke, Klimt to name a few came under it's spell.

If your painting has an all over color theme, everything will be harmonious. Study Japanese and Chinese art for color ideas, the Europeans of the 19th century did. Degas did some wonderful bathtub scenes that were radiant.

The internet is a great source for research on color studies. Work up small paintings to reflect the various color harmonies referenced on the color wheel.

Tricia Migdoll · 05-07-2007, 05:41 AM

Thanks again Sharon. Colour is on my very long list of things to learn. Alas, along with composition and more.

Every painting i do, reminds me of what i do not yet know about painting.

Carol Norton · 05-07-2007, 08:49 PM

"If your painting has an all over color theme, everything will be harmonious. Study Japanese and Chinese art for color ideas, the Europeans of the 19th century did. Degas did some wonderful bathtub scenes that were radiant."

Sharon, what I heard about your Scottsdale Artists' workshop was that you did an incredible job teaching everything - especially color. You practice what you preach. The paintings on your website exhibit the perfection of your color expertise. I truly hope you will repeat your workshop at SAS next year.

PS I will follow your advice for artists to study. Any special books that you recommend? (Can't buy them all.....)