Goodness! Thank you all so much. I overslept this morning which usually puts me in a rotten mood because I have to rush around and often end up stubbing my toe, breaking a nail, or getting a splinter---some annoyance like that. But nooooo! I woke up to your nice responses and it made up for the oversleeping.
Ngaire, I used mostly Rembrandt and Nu Pastels along with my pastel pencils for eye and mouth details on this one. I have quite a lot of raw umber (Rembrandt) in the background which set the tone for the rest of it. I love that color. It's quite unlike its counterpart in paint as it is much lighter and slightly green.
Michele, thank you! Saris are so beautiful. I have to admit I had never really looked closely at them before but overall the patterns are lovely and flowing. I'm not sure they would compliment a 17 year old young man but these days anything goes so you might really make a statement with a piece like that if you can convince him to try one on! I'd like to see it.
Jimmie, you made me so upset that I burned the piece. No I didn't. Yes indeed, I approached this differently by thinking more about marrying the colors of the whole painting together. I also strategically (maybe not totally successfully) placed the pattern of the sari in the hopes that it would still look right but would help point to the face. I tried a few different colors in the background before settling on this. I don't know if it shows in the post, but I also tried to get the background to reflect the cool and warms of the portrait subject. The right side of the background is warmer than the left. I think that helped a bit. Finally, lighting was actually on my mind which I am just now realizing makes so much of a difference. You have mastered that but I am an infant on that subject. Don't you wish you hadn't asked?! Ask a simple question, get a long winded answer. Oopsy.
Cynthia, you are so sweet! I have never entered a competition in my life and know nothing about doing that. Maybe I will try. I sure appreciate the compliment that accompanies the suggestion. Thank you.
Chris, a "wow" from you reminds me of how I felt when I had that dream that Ed McMahon showed up at my house with a big fat check from the sweepstakes. Please don't wake me.
Kim, to be fair, the above applies to you as well. Girls, girls, don't fight. There is plenty of room in my ego compartment for two "wows". Let's keep it civil.
Alex, thank you. That is such a nice compliment.
Garth, bite that tongue! I feel that way about every painting I see of yours. In fact, I want to be just like you. I love your work and have begun cyber-stalking your posts. For you to pass any work my way would be like feeding my dog a fine steak. This is a compliment to you as my dog has never had anything better than ground beef.
Julie, thank you so much for noticing that I did actually think about this one. Yes, the sari was "fun" in that I enjoyed watching the pattern take shape and felt a sense of relief and accomplishment when it was finished. Thanks so much!
You all have been so thoughtful and kind. I really appreciate it.
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