Portrait by the water

Julie Deane · 06-08-2009, 12:51 PM

Thanks, Marvin. I greatly appreciated the lessons I learned in your workshop, and am endeavoring to keep them in mind.

By the way, I finally get to visit the Met this summer, and will be thinking of your lecture "Everything I know about Painting I learned at the Met" as I visit!

Julie Deane · 06-08-2009, 01:03 PM

Wow, thanks, Alexandra,

I worked hard on the composition, using what Juliette Aristides calls the "Armature of the Rectangle". Patty Joyce saw my original oil sketch and can testify that there was a noticeable improvement in composition using those design principles.

I used this color palette:
2 blues: cobalt and manganese
2 reds: alizarin crimson and cadmium
2 yellows: naples dark and yellow ochre
1 black: ivory black
Raw umber

Oh, and a touch of gold ochre in the hair. I am a believer in choosing a color palette according to what I think the painting needs.

I feel that I could have put more crispness and value contrast into the rocks, but I am pleased overall, so thank you.

Mike Dodson · 06-08-2009, 03:21 PM

I love this. The edges are modeled beautifully. This piece is very pleasing to the eye. My favorite of yours by far!

Julie Deane · 06-08-2009, 06:15 PM

Thanks, Mike.

Natalie Hunsaker · 06-08-2009, 06:58 PM

Congratulations on a wonderful finished product! It feels good to finish a commission, doesn't it? Well done.

Debra Jones · 06-08-2009, 07:15 PM

The boy is wonderful, but above all the mood here is marvelous. I love that light. I love that weather, the evening rolling dark clouds with long low light. I crave it and you satisfied me. A pleasure to watch.
dj*

Julie Deane · 06-08-2009, 08:06 PM

Many thanks.

Allan, it is a way of dividing a canvas according to geometric proportions. It's not a foolproof method, but it helped me align significant lines in the composition to relate to the rectangle shape within which they were contained. Here is one link, although I prefer Aristides' book with her examples:
http://artiseternal.wordpress.com/20...e-proportions/

Natalie, yes, it was satisfying to see the mom's and grandma's delight with the finished product.

Thanks, Debra. I am glad you enjoy it.

Carol Norton · 06-09-2009, 07:43 PM

Julie, I am completely charmed by your painting! I admire every part of it, from his expression to your style. The parents of the child have a real gem!

Debra Rexroat · 06-09-2009, 07:57 PM

This is one of the most intelligent and unsentimental children's portraits I have seen. You have allowed a glimpse of a future "emerging adult" while at the present depicting the boy. Bravo! Love it!

Julie Deane · 06-09-2009, 10:07 PM

Thanks, Carol and Debra. However, I have a confession to make. The family moved to Europe before I was able to get a good reference photo. A friend of theirs took the photo, and it was a wonderful shot. My part was to work on the composition and the painting. His mom considers the painting as one way to remember their stay overseas.