Figure in Turban

[Sharon Knettell]

Originally Posted by Thomasin Dewhurst

Sharon - I am getting up the guts to do a really burlesque painting. Something Goya-esque. (But what would people think!? How unfeminine!)

Thomasin, my model just showed up with hot pink striped blond hair, Previously she was an ash-blond and I had painter her that way. I said, "what the hell" and painted in the pink striped hair.

[Thomasin Dewhurst]

Originally Posted by Sharon Knettell

Thomasin, my model just showed up with hot pink striped blond hair, Previously she was an ash-blond and I had painter her that way. I said, "what the hell" and painted in the pink striped hair.

Yes, I read that about you and your model on another of your posts. It does give me courage, and your piece that was threatening to become a Barbie doll was actually a bit of a challenge for me to do something a bit more daring. "What the hell" indeed! It's only a bit of painted fabric after all, and it doesn't have to come out of the cupboard (Picasso's "Les Desmoiselles" was hidden away for many months, wasn't it, before he had the courage to show anyone. And that's Picasso).

[Linda Brandon]

Adding to the chorus of kudos here, Thomasin, I am another one who really admires the various tactile paint surfaces you achieve. (And as Alex says, those light value colors are subtle and very nicely managed.) Your texturing method reminds me a little of Odd Nerdrum's style.

[Grethe Angen]

Originally Posted by Linda Brandon

Your texturing method reminds me a little of Odd Nerdrum's style.

Exactly, this is very true. but his techniques are a lot about sanding down thick layers of paint.

[Sharon Knettell]

Originally Posted by Thomasin Dewhurst

Yes, I read that about you and your model on another of your posts. It does give me courage, and your piece that was threatening to become a Barbie doll was actually a bit of a challenge for me to do something a bit more daring. "What the hell" indeed! It's only a bit of painted fabric after all, and it doesn't have to come out of the cupboard (Picasso's "Les Desmoiselles" was hidden away for many months, wasn't it, before he had the courage to show anyone. And that's Picasso).

What is interesting to me, is that the more rejections I get, the bolder I become. I have not for the life of me ever been able to figure out what the judges or the public want.

At this point in my life, I feel that as far as painting, I have nothing to lose. It is intensely freeing.

I have posted this before somewhere, but here goes. Years ago when I first started my dancer series, (they were far more traditional then) my model walked in with lime green bangs. I was furious. As I was painting her from life, I could not for the life of me get beyond the color that I saw.

Fume, fume, fume, glare, shot daggers at the model.

The next day, I realized, this is a contemporary girl. It is the late 20th century and I am not a 19th century gentleman, namely Degas

Good luck with your next painting adventure. I cannot wait to see it!

[Thomasin Dewhurst]

Thank-you, Sharon. I also find that a well-timed rejection can work wonders for the development of my art.

Degas could be quite weird himself, though, couldn't he? I mean his figures can sometimes look unsettlingly zombie-like and his colours sometimes shriek unrealistically - so I think he himself may have not been totally adverse to lime green hair. What freedom suberb drafting and compositional skill allows! Draw well and anything goes, don't you think?

[Thomasin Dewhurst]

I am very pleased to say that this painting sold at the recent "South Africans Abroad" show at Hodnett Fine Art.

[Alexandra Tyng]

What great news, Thomasin! I am thrilled for you.

[Carlos Ygoa]

Fantastic news, Thomasin.........very well deserved! (hope I get half as lucky...)

[Thomasin Dewhurst]

Thank-you Alex and Carlos. I am sure you will be much more than half as lucky, Carlos.