Tyler

Linda Nelson · 07-08-2004, 10:20 AM

This is the second in a series of children, each gets a portrait at 16 years old. This is 25 x 39 (same proportions of previous painting but slightly smaller). The client is a homebuilder, so the house details are as much part of the painting as the dog and Tyler.

Joan Breckwoldt · 07-08-2004, 11:57 AM

Hi Linda,

This is just beautiful! I especially like the way you've handled the shadows. The whole painting has such atmosphere!

This one seems a bit more 'painterly' than previous paintings? Or maybe wer'e just getting a closer look. I like the blue shirt with the fall foilage in the background. All the colors work so well together. And again, another great composition.

Joan

Linda Nelson · 07-08-2004, 12:49 PM

Thanks Joan!

I am trying to paint more loosely, but these images are making it look a bit scrappier than it is in real life. In fact I would like to report the images after this weekend.
The lighting on was a challenge and fun in that the main light is from the right and then there's ambient light from the left, with the "shadow" area in the middle. It was in this "shadow" area the local colors are more vibrant.

Kimberly Dow · 07-08-2004, 08:44 PM

This is lovely. I especially appreciate the brick and the dog - very nice!

Linda Brandon · 07-08-2004, 08:49 PM

Linda, I love the way the dappled sun moves the eye around the painting. Nice job!

You've painted a lot of families; I wonder if you think that a 16 year old is "easier" to paint than other ages...?

Jimmie Arroyo · 07-09-2004, 09:26 AM

Would you mind some more closeups, the application is beautiful. Did you feel more comfortable working more loosely, because you did a great job.

Michele Rushworth · 07-09-2004, 10:24 AM

Very nice, Linda. This one has a feeling that is very different from your other work -- it seems somehow more rich with depth and a stronger massing of values.

I think you mentioned that you'll be posting new images for us to look at. That would be nice, as these seem to show a lot of jpeg compression.

Can you also post the other one you've done from this family? Later this year I'll also be doing the second of what will be a series of five siblings as they reach the same age. I'm interested to see how you've handled these first two.

Linda Nelson · 07-09-2004, 10:39 AM

HI Michele,

In reading David Leffels' new book, one thing I tried to take away from it and apply to this painting is that I asked myself "what is the painting about?". I tried to make the painting about the light - the light hitting the columns, defining the edges of the subjects, dappling on the trees...

It is an overly compressed file. This painting should be posted on my website soon, and when it is I will add a link here to the much bigger image on the website, and I can also link the associated painting of his sister, Mallory (which I'm also in the process of getting a larger image onto the website of. Just a note regarding the two paintings - as the owner is a homebuilder, you'll probably notice how in both painting the architecture is a part of the composition in a little stronger way than just being the setting.

Linda

Michele Rushworth · 07-09-2004, 04:16 PM

Do you like David Leffel's new book, overall? (Is it worth the $80 or so that I believe it costs?)

I have the one written about him by his former student, which I mostly like.

Linda Nelson · 07-13-2004, 04:29 PM

Yes I liked David's book, but I think I got more out of it after listening to him talk, and so understanding how he describes things. For me it was worth it.

here's the links to the Tyler images on my website, and to his sister's painting as well:

www.heirloomportraits.net/woa_tyler.

http://www.heirloomportraits.net/full_tyler.htm

www.heirloomportraits.net/woa_mallory.htm

www.heirloomportraits.net/full_mallory.htm