Holiday Home Tour: "Hannah"

Patricia Joyce · 11-06-2008, 09:15 PM

I have really been struggling with medical problems in my right hand, Arthritis, carpel tunnel, and some weird problem with a tendon have put me in a cast for a week so I could not do anything. It was very frustrating. My doctor is still telling me I should not hold a pencil or paintbrush with my right hand for some time. Afraid that is not possible with the backup of commission I have.

I just finished this drawing for the Home Tour on the 15th. I was commissioned to do their dog as well, but doubt it will be completed before the show. They are allowing me to hang other portraits of mine throughout the house though.

Anyways, this is exciting. Of all the houses on the tour I was picked to be placed in the most popular house, the largest and most stately. Last year over 1,000 people wallked through these home. It's a big deal, like having my own exhibit!!

Here is the portrait of Hannah. I am so lucky that I get these beautiful little girls. She is four years old, so photogenic that they want me to do a triptic of three more images, closely cropped and done in graphite!! It will be an exciting project!

Thank you for looking.

Claudemir Bonfim · 11-06-2008, 09:19 PM

Hi there,

Hope your hand gets better soon.

That's a lovely portrait. It will hang beautifully on her wall.

Patricia Joyce · 11-06-2008, 09:26 PM

Thanks,
I just realized this pic was snapped before I changed a few things about her shoulders. When I ge the chance I will upload the final image, The face is the same but her shoulders less distracting.

I need all the good wishes I can get for this stupid hand of mine, oh, I guess I had better stop typing, this is a no no too!

Amanda Grosjean · 11-07-2008, 09:22 AM

Hi Patricia,

I just had to comment when I saw your drawing, that little girl is breathtaking. Those soulful eyes just leap out at you. The treatment of the hair is very nice as well. Personally, I don't know that I would do any more to the shoulders. I love the little buttons.

I hope your hand gets better. Isn't that just the worst fear for an artist? My husband and I just bought some saws and tools from a woodworker in our neighborhood. He had to give up his hobby because of a degenerative joint disorder. Broke our heart as he was getting all excited talking about some things he's made. I think about my grandma and her arthritis and all I can do it hope science come up with more miracle drugs before I get to that age.

Best wishes,
Amanda

Debra Jones · 11-07-2008, 01:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Patricia Joyce

Thanks,
I just realized this pic was snapped before I changed a few things about her shoulders. When I ge the chance I will upload the final image, The face is the same but her shoulders less distracting.

I need all the good wishes I can get for this stupid hand of mine, oh, I guess I had better stop typing, this is a no no too!

Honestly, I was so impressed with the quality of line in the clothing balanced by the elegant subtlety of the skin. I do hope you didn't "clean them up". I talked with a few friends once and we tended to agree that artists LOVE to see the work show. By that I mean an unfinished piece that demonstrated the presence of a human hand, rather than a slick near photographic work tends to make me, as an artist, react more warmly and admire the craft as well as the art.

I literally enlarged this one to look at those confident strokes in the collar.

Great work.

Patricia Joyce · 11-07-2008, 02:34 PM

Thank you Amanda for your generous compliment and your show of concern for my hand. I have waited all my adult life to create art I am not about to stop, now. There is surgery they want to do on the hand, but I am going to try all other avenues first. Evidently the surgery is very successful, so I keep my hopes afloat. As many artists know, when I am painting or drawing I feel no pain in the hand...but the rest of my day/night,,,arg.

Thank you Debra, your comments mean allot to me because I like your work. I, too, like to see unfinished parts to a piece for the same reasons. I barely changed a thing, just a line or two. My technique is very tedious with layers and layers of fine lines, lifting with gum erasure, going in again. I actually feel as if at some point it is no longer paper and graphite, but it begins to feel like actual skin to me, sounds weird, but I know many of you can relate.

Alexandra Tyng · 11-07-2008, 02:47 PM

Patty,

It a beautiful drawing. I just did a so-so drawing, sitting in on a friend's class, so I'm in the mood for appreciating other artists' fine work with the pencil--my favorite medium for drawing. It takes a lot of hard work, concentration, persistence, and understanding the medium. I feel like I've worked with oils so long I forgot how to use a pencil and I'll have to learn all over again.

Hope you are able to resolve your hand problem soon.

Patricia Joyce · 11-16-2008, 12:46 PM

The Holiday Home Tour was yesterday. This was a very fun experience. I arrived at the homeowners to deliver the portraits (I completed one of Hannah and one of their 14 year old beloved dog) and walked into total chaos. This house had recently been expanded from 3,000 sq ft to over 5,000 sq ft. Interior designers, florists, furniture delivery persons were working in every room. Walls had already been painted,

Originally the designer said she would probably put my drawings in the utility room (I think she imagined i did caricatures!) So when she looked at the portraits she grabbed the arm of her partner and they both kind of gasped. If I am lucky, when I telephone her this week, I may have a designer who will be willing to recommend my work for original art in her clients homes. Oh, the owners were happy too, grandma got all choked up!!!

Anyways, they thought the portrait of Hannah would do well in the bedroom, I was fine with that, better than the utility room! So, when I arrived yesterday morning before the tour began to drop off some Christmas discount postcards I made up I was so suprised to see it was hung above the mantle in the living room. The gray stone of the firplace really sets off the graphite, I was so happy. Later I went through the house with my sisters and stood in the corner of the living room and just observed people. Every person walked up close to the portrait to get a closer view, they took the time to page through my portfolio and take my business card or discount card.

I printed up 100 cards, and left 100 business cards. Over 1,000 people typically go on this tour. If I get one commission out of this I would be happy.

Here are some images of the drawings on their walls. Thanks for looking!!

Julie Deane · 11-16-2008, 01:27 PM

Oh, Patty, they look wonderful! I'm sorry that this forum doesn't do pet portraits any more, because I want to look at your dog drawing too.

Congratulations - I hope you get LOTS of commissions!

Enzie Shahmiri · 11-16-2008, 01:46 PM

Patty, this is awesome! I am so happy for you to have landed such a wonderful opportunity to give your work the exposure it deserves. I hope you will not get one, but tons of new commissions from this. Thanks for sharing the photos!

Julie, I agree I would love to see this lovely dog portrait as well.