Seneca

Debra Jones · 03-31-2003, 12:50 AM

I have painted this model at the school many times, but I needed a demo for a really great idea a friend had, so I picked a photo of her. I donated an 8" x 10" oil portrait to a silent auction. I had already donated TWO other portraits to charities and have not had the certificates redeemed. It was very disheartening, not even to get a call from the client. I even tried to contact one of the charities but they said the info was confidential.

My friend made me DO a demo at the event. She also invited me to sit at her table. It was wonderful. I got bid up to full value and as I was there to drum up business, I told the bidders that if they took my brochure and DID NOT win the bid, I would donate the deposit of 25% for an order generated by the event. Good way for me to get into the habit of getting a deposit and good ploy to continue to support the charity. Discounting my work for a good cause.

So, that said, here is my demo. She is on sueded board, 14" x 11" and probably my most "Pastel-like" pastel so far.

Mike McCarty · 03-31-2003, 10:47 AM

Debra,

This also happened to me. I donated a charcoal portrait and the winning bidder would never redeem. I called a couple of times because I felt the obligation to do the work. They never showed any interest and I just let it go. Hard to figure people sometimes.

Richard Huante · 03-31-2003, 02:37 PM

Debra,

I like this. Can you post the reference pic for comparison?

Leslie Ficcaglia · 03-31-2003, 03:14 PM

Debra, that's beautiful; I love the mirthful expression you've caught and your handling of the pastels is very effective. Something seems a bit off with her neck and shoulder, though, especially on the viewer's left side - the shoulder seems too low or something. Aside from that it's your usual triumph.

I know that you usually work from life and I'm wondering how different this felt to you.

I also had someone pick up a discount certificate at an auction recently and never contact me about it. In fact yesterday I called one of the people who arranged the event and asked me to contribute to see if she wanted to follow up on it. Several other people bid on it and I'm wondering whether they would have been more interested in actually consummating the deal. The only other "success" I've had with auctions was a situation in which people who had already told me that they wanted me to paint their children found out that I was offering a portrait at their children's school's auction and waited for that event so that their school would receive 50%. Not quite what I had in mind when I agreed to be included.

Debra Jones · 03-31-2003, 05:22 PM

I am reluctant to post the photo because I have not actually reimbursed her for her time. We have a courtesy to tip the model if we photograph a pose, but these were some snapshots among friends for a little article I was doing about a session of marathon figure studies.

So far 90% of my commissions have been from photos. They are a necessary evil for me for landscape too, because I faint out here in the summer.

The main drawback for me from photos is interpreting the colors. Looking at a pink cheek on paper is not the same as a pink cheek in the studio. Must say although this is a bit "white" with not very rich lights, the shadowy tones are a lot more colorful than I thought they were coming with people breathing down my neck. I don't think the composition is its strength, but it was all done, start to finish during the two hour bidding and pitching of the auction. 14" x 11". It would look nice cropped into a 12" x 9"!

Here is the photo and I think the neck will be self-explanatory.

Leslie Ficcaglia · 03-31-2003, 09:12 PM

Thanks for posting the photo, dj*; you captured her beautifully. Actually you made her look even more expressive than the photo, if possible. But I think you made the shoulder on our left dip too far too fast after you delineated the seam of her robe at the neck, so it looks as though the shoulder then curves down too low. It works where the robe or kimono or whatever it is joins the neck, but then it's too extreme in comparison to the photo.

Elizabeth Schott · 04-09-2003, 09:40 PM

Debra, I had a head and shoulder's go at an auction and am still waiting too. But I told them I had to work from her live or one of my photos, so maybe that is why they are dragging their heels. They paid a lot to not use it.

I love your use of line with the pastel here. I have always been too chicken to really give it a go. The one thing that stands out to me, even if the photo doesn't show it, I would accentuate the nostril on our right. So much of her lower nose tip shows it looks like she might have the reverse of Michael Jackson. This could be one of those "flaws" I've talked about too!

Very nice!