Nancy Bea Miller

Alexandra Tyng · 06-29-2005, 04:04 PM

Here is a portrait I finished recently of my friend Nancy Bea, who is an artist known primarily for her still life and portraits/figurative works. I first did a color study from life, then photographed her at her kitchen table with her notebook in hand. I was attracted by the colors and by her contemplative mood. I included some details. This is my first attempt at Photoshop so I'm hoping the colors look okay.

Michele Rushworth · 06-29-2005, 06:48 PM

This makes me think of a modern update of a lot of Mary Cassat's paintings. Women doing casual every day things. Similar coloration too, soft pastels, etc. Very nice!

Garth Herrick · 06-30-2005, 12:03 AM

Dear Alex,

I am still groping for the right words to express my love for this thoughtful, inspired painting. I know Nancy Bea well too, and cannot imagine a better and more natural capture of her as a friend and fellow artist. You have given so much depth and context to her personality with these fully integral surroundings that evoke a functional sybiosis in their conversant relationship. The harmonious color theme of soft yellows and pale muted blues, being both quiet and playful at the same time, offers a revealing window into her intellectual intensity, and her effervescent creativity. This is such a multisensory treat. I am about to strike up a familiar conversation and exchange of ideas with your portrait and it feels like a perfectly natural thing to do! You know, I would love the opportunity to see this one in life. .......It is already endowed with a wonderful penetrating life!

Bravo,

Garth

Tony Pro · 06-30-2005, 01:53 AM

Beautiful....

oodles of mood! and well executed!

I want more!
Tony

Lisa Ober · 06-30-2005, 06:48 AM

I feel like I have the vocabulary and artistic education of a two year old next to Garth's response so rather than really pegging myself as a complete idiot let me just say that I think your painting is beautiful.

Well, better go. I have to go buy the book "How to Speak So People Won't Think You're Stupid" which I believe is on sale.

Alexandra Tyng · 06-30-2005, 09:17 AM

Thank you, Michele, Tony, Garth & Lisa!

Lisa, forget buying the book, your portrait of the woman in the sari just spoke more eloquently than words. In fact all of you are superb artists and I value your comments more than I can say, so now I'm feeling a bit tongue-tied.

By the way, I forgot to say the portrait is 26" x 36".

Sharon Knettell · 02-11-2007, 09:47 AM

Terrific painting, well deserved award!

Thomasin Dewhurst · 02-11-2007, 01:46 PM

You're very talented, aren't you. I'm so envious! I want to do that too!

Alexandra Tyng · 02-11-2007, 10:45 PM

Sharon, thanks! I'd heard somewhere that if you've entered a piece three times without success, then you should stop trying. But my artist friends around here kept saying it was their favorite, so I thought, "Okay, I'll just save it for the Woodmere next year and see what happens." And voila! So three times isn't always the charm.

Thomasin, oh, you are too much! You do what YOU do so very, very well, of course you don't want to do what I do. You should have seen the junk I was doing when I was in my 30s. You are SO much better it isn't funny!