Human on My Faithless Arm

[Chris Saper]

Dear Garth,

What a marvelous painting - original and compelling composition!
I agree with LInda, I keep leaning over to look at you straight on. Gorgeous skin tones.

Post more!

[Rob Sullivan]

I, too have seen this posted somewhere else - but I think this is where it really belongs: as the inaugural nude which sets a definitive standard for this new section of the forum.

Just wonderful, Garth. Thoughtful, insightful, powerful (plus other positive adjectives ending with the same suffix) - this is a figurative work to make one stop and think past the marvelous handling of paint for which Garth is renowned.

I'm very happy that this new section of the forum has magically appeared!

[Garth Herrick]

Originally Posted by Chris Saper

I agree with LInda, I keep leaning over to look at you straight on.

Post more!

Dear Chris and Rob,

Thank you both so much for your very high praise. Careful! It might go to my head!

Here is a closer look at my head. Obviously there is a lot of texture in the background:

Garth

[Terri Ficenec]

WOW Garth, this is absolutely stunning! That transformed blue gourd on the column reads like a rock (to me anyway), adding more weight to that oppressive column head and you so claustrophobically human underneath. Wonderfully original and compelling! (oh... guess Chris already said that!... there just aren't enough words to describe this!)

Thanks for posting the closeup!

[Cindy Procious]

Well, I waited too long to post - and everyone has said what I wanted to say! LOL

So I'll just add - BRAVO!

What an incredibly compelling image. And, when I grow up I want to paint skin just like you.

[Jimmie Arroyo]

Garth, another beautiful piece. (like we would expect anything else, duh)

Out of curiosity, have you done other self-portraits over the years? Wondering if this painting would be possible if you started painting it today. Not technically, but emotionally. It still feels like you have personal burdens, but how to portray yourself today would be interesting to see. Maybe you should celebrate the painting's ten year anniversary by painting an update? I'm sure we would more anxious awaiting it's completion than you would be!

Can't say it enough, but your work is truly incredible.

[Carl Toboika]

It's just as cool seeing it again as it was the first time I got a look at this Garth, expressive, good work.

Kudos to Cynthia for deciding to open the figurative and nude sections.

[Garth Herrick]

Originally Posted by Jimmie Arroyo

Garth, another beautiful piece. (like we would expect anything else, duh)

Out of curiosity, have you done other self-portraits over the years? Wondering if this painting would be possible if you started painting it today. Not technically, but emotionally. It still feels like you have personal burdens, but how to portray yourself today would be interesting to see. Maybe you should celebrate the painting's ten year anniversary by painting an update? I'm sure we would more anxious awaiting it's completion than you would be!

Can't say it enough, but your work is truly incredible.

Dear Terri, Cindy, Jimmie, Carl, Rob, Garth, and Heidi:

I am overwhelmed with your positve responses and interest about my painting. Actually I am at a loss for words. Your support and encouragement really takes the sting out of feeling perhaps overexposed. Okay, I am feeling a liitle more comfortable now. Thanks!

Jimmie, Rob, and Heidi: Be careful what you wish for! Yes, I have done a couple of nude self portraits over the years. I have one from 1983, which is quite different as a composition and is dramatically lit from behind ( I used Liquin glazes a little too freely in this one though, so it already has conservation issues). I was rather skinny then, but alas, am not anymore. I have never considered doing another since Human on My Faithless Arm. I can't fit in that pose today. A new image would have to reflect some posing changes with a fresh insight. Your invitation has me thinking though, about how one might best go about to portray what is plainly evident to be an unremarkable, unideal, and age-faded human figure into a representation that could be sufficiently resonating and compelling as a painted image. I'm sure it's possibe to do well, but you shall have to encourage me on. August marks the ten-year anniversary for this painting.

Of course if any of the rest of you have self portraits, bring them out to share here as well, so we can have a community of peers.

Garth

[Rob Sullivan]

Maybe you should celebrate the painting's ten year anniversary by painting an update?

I second Jimmie's suggestion! No pressure, Garth - but come on! The modeling fees can't be all that expensive!