Young Harpist

Alexandra Tyng · 02-14-2006, 09:38 AM

Allan, thanks all over again. Do you mean the baseboard? I swear I fixed the ^(*^)*&)(*#$^$% thing with a ruler no less, but it does look funny in the photo.

Garth, you are a pal! You keep likening my work to that of famous artists. First it was Peale, now Eakins. Of course you happen to pick some of my favorites. It might have too much color in it for Eakins' taste, though.

Alexandra Tyng · 02-14-2006, 10:05 AM

I forgot to mention the dimensions: 68" x 44"

Thanks Jean, Joy, Mischa, and Cynthia!

I realized I should give some kind of background information on this painting. It is part of a series I am working on so it was not originally a commissioned piece, but it may be purchased by the family of the girl. She is a teenager, a serious harpist, and this was an attempt to show a musician in the act of playing, accurately with respect to hand position, feet/pedal position, posture, etc. I wanted to capture the feeling of grace and hard work that go into playing the harp. It's really a very difficult instrument to play, because hands and feet are working together. Thanks for noticing that, Mischa. For those of you who haven't followed my WIP, it explains in more detail.

It's funny about color: I seem to enjoy it and appreciate it more as time goes on. The hair, Joy, happens to be one of my favorite parts of the painting because from afar it looks so dark, practially fading into the background, but when you get up close it is made up of all these purples, blues, and oranges. It was a lot of fun to paint.

Kimberly Dow · 02-14-2006, 10:53 AM

This is just gorgeous Alex! Congratulations! I so want to do larger pieces, youve inspired me.

Elizabeth Schott · 02-14-2006, 11:02 AM

Oh Alex this came out just lovely!

I can hear the music coming from those delicate fingers!

She must have been trilled, as you must be too!

Beth

Alexandra Tyng · 02-14-2006, 11:09 AM

Oh, Kim, you have inspired me equally! Thank you. That reminds me--congratulations on your Charity getting into the OPA show!

Talk about BIG--what about that huge portrait head you just recently finished?

Alexandra Tyng · 02-14-2006, 11:19 AM

Whoops, Beth, I'm sorry I didn't see your post. Thanks for being able to "hear" the music. I listened to hours of her practicing while working on the drawings and color sketch, and it was really an auditory and visual treat. Do you ever feel anxious that you will be able to capture something as you are working on a painting? I get anxious, kind of a nervous energy, and it spurs me on. In this case there was this incredible sound of the harp reverberating in their large living room. As someone mentioned in the WIP, the sound was even in the colors and pattern of the wallpaper. I think there is a fancy word for that blending of the senes, but I can't think of it.

David Draime · 02-14-2006, 02:01 PM

Alexandra, just beautiful. I would so love to see this in person - to learn.

-David

Claudemir Bonfim · 02-14-2006, 02:31 PM

Gorgeous Alex!
Beautiful in every detail, I like your edges, value control, composition and colors.
And Yeah! I can hear the sound of the music!

Lacey Lewis · 02-14-2006, 06:28 PM

How wonderful that I got to see this again on Valentine's Day! It literally makes my heart pound. I feel there is a lot of tension, as she is in the middle of playing and I am anticipating the sound. There is so much movement and so much lovely color, it is an exciting painting.

I could likely do the math myself, maybe I am just lazy... would you mind giving me in idea of how big the head is in this painting? Or the hands? I love those close-ups too... I never would have guessed some of the colors that I see up close from afar.

Alexandra Tyng · 02-14-2006, 07:06 PM

Bonfim, glad you hear the music, too. Thanks, I'm glad you approve of all the different aspects--edges, values, etc. The color started with the pink dress and the rest fell into place when I saw the room where she practiced. I knew I had the elements to make it work together.

Valentine's Day! Happy Valentine's Day, Lacey, and everyone! It was just a coincidence; actually I posted this last night pretty late. Maybe anticipation of sound is even better than sound. Like the foot in the "up" position has potential energy. Her head size is 7 1/4"