First grisaille

Linda Nelson · 03-24-2003, 06:14 PM

Hi,

Here's a just-finished (hopefully) portrait I did of Derk Hanson, a wildlife artist and family friend. The reference photograph I took myself.

The painting is my first in flirting with the grisaille method, which made painting all the surroundings a lot more manageable.

The size is 36" x 42" wide. Sorry I don't have a close up, but I will try again (camera problems today).

Thanks for your critique,
Linda

Linda Nelson · 03-24-2003, 06:20 PM

Oops, here it is I hope.

Linda Nelson · 03-24-2003, 06:58 PM

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Mike McCarty · 03-24-2003, 08:50 PM

Linda,

This is a wonderful painting, my only advice would be to knock off the sharpness of the crease which goes across the subjects back and down his arm. Great job!

Linda Nelson · 03-24-2003, 11:39 PM

Yes - you're right - that fault line running down the middle of the shirt is a distration. Thanks, Mike, I will definitely attend to that.

Linda

Josef Sy · 03-25-2003, 08:40 AM

Very nice piece, Linda. I really like the composition and the tone of the painting. It gives a feeling of isolation and his concentration. Hopefully you did not break it.

Linda Nelson · 03-25-2003, 09:42 AM

I'm glad to hear you say that Josef - as he actually finished this painting a year ago, and the shot I took of him was of him pretending to paint. He actually had nothing on his brush, and the painting was there as a prop. So it's nice to see that it still comes off as a "real glimpse" of a moment in time.

Thanks,
Linda

Mari DeRuntz · 03-25-2003, 10:37 AM

Hi Linda,

Another marvelous work!

The only thing that breaks up the beautiful design of the piece are the two lights over the easel; because they're so dark on such a light background, they pop out maybe more than you intend. I do like how compositionally they redirect the eye and keep the viewer from exiting the painting at that light area at the top of the canvas; maybe the area above them could be darkened slightly to knock back the contrast.

That is very nit-picky. I love how you've controlled the values in this painting to support the figure.

You alluded to a new studio set up, is this your first "new studio" piece?

Linda Nelson · 03-25-2003, 12:56 PM

Hey Mari,

How's it goin'... Yes the lamps are bold up there, but I think they are standing out more in this screen shot of the painting than in the real painting itself. Thanks for your encouragement!

As far as the new studio, that I aborted. What I was actually planning was renting a storefront space in a chic part of town, as it seems I find more commissions when people see the real thing vs. reprints. Even though lease rates are very cheap right now, I just couldn't swing the time commitment to man the place, so I cancelled the whole thing. Hopefully the future will open the opportunity again.

Take care!
Linda

Chris Saper · 04-01-2003, 07:33 PM

Please see Linda's finished portrait of Derk in the Unveilings section.