Emily, Reclining Nude

Janel Maples · 07-25-2006, 12:11 PM

40 x 60 Oil on Linen

I painted this for the Rahr West Art Museum's Manitowoc County,
and museum members art exhibit running the month of August 2006.

Not sure what I will do with this very large painting when the exhibit is over, but I will cross that bridge when I get to it.

Thanks for looking.

Janel

Alexandra Tyng · 07-25-2006, 08:37 PM

Janel, this must have been quite an undertaking. The skin tones are very real and she looks so relaxed and matter-of-fact. I love that bench. The peacock feather looks familiar, too. Can we have some closeups?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Janel Maples

Not sure what I will do with this very large painting when the exhibit is over, but I will cross that bridge when I get to it.

I know what you mean, Janel! Every time I paint a really large one I wonder what I'm going to do with it. My Harpist is 68" x 44" and I realized I couldn't get her into my car if I framed it. But sometimes a subject just asks to be painted large.

Janel Maples · 07-25-2006, 10:13 PM

Yes, Alex, for me this was quite and undertaking but it went remarkably fast after I finished the portrait of three sibblings. One subject was a treat.

I apologize for not being able to send closeups at the moment. I already delivered the painting to the museum and I only took this photo of it. It is too bad, there are some subtle transitions to her body that no longer show up when I resized the image in PS. Perhaps when I get it back next month I can get some better pictures of it by taking it outside to shoot.

This is 48 x 68 when framed. It did fit nicely into my van to deliver. It is a good thing my children talked me into getting a van. A year ago I was driving a VW beetle. That wouldn't have worked.

Richard Bingham · 07-25-2006, 11:43 PM

I've seen this before . . . nearly a ringer for a painting by Kim Dow, which has me curious. What's the point of reference for this? Are you both working from the same model/photos ?

Janel Maples · 07-25-2006, 11:48 PM

Yes, Richard, you are correct. This is my model and my reference. Kim liked the image and requested permission to paint it for her show in Chicago and I granted it to her. Unfortunately, we both painted it at nearly the same time. But, I guess I will take it as a compliment that it looks like hers. I am a big fan of her work.

Terri Ficenec · 07-26-2006, 11:19 AM

Janel this is very nicely done. . . though hard to see well in this tiny format!
(So hard to resize horizontal images especially to just 400 pixels or less) I agree it would be wonderful to see some closer shots. . .

I especially like how you've handled some of the textures. . . that ruff on the pillow for instance, and that so subtle vase of peacock feathers behind the bench. I agree with Alex about her flesh tones too. Nice work!