Ellie

Mark Lovett · 09-26-2005, 07:35 PM

Not sure if I'm worthy of this seasoned professional category with all the unbelievably talented artists who post here, although I am a full time artist now, but I'll give it a try and see if I get booted off. Here is Ellie , my latest, and my two year old niece, 16x20 oil on linen.

I was trying to post two images on the same post but mistakenly ended up with two separate posts. I would like to delete one but I dont think it will let me.

I am also kind of surprised at the poor quality of my images that were posted of Ellie. The image on my computer is very good, so I must lose the quality when I lower the size and resolution to upload into this software. Other artists seem to get better quality images posted successfully, so I must be doing something wrong, but I dont know what it is.

Carol Norton · 09-26-2005, 10:52 PM

Mark, this is so lovely. Thank you for sharing it. I love the natural moment that it portrays-just that fleeting instant in time. Blink and it is gone. You captured it forever.
Carol Norton

Alexandra Tyng · 09-27-2005, 09:28 AM

Mark,

If you are a professional, why not? I think the trouble with people posting in this section is not believing that they are really professional. When I first posted here I spent days debating with myself over whether I was a "seasoned" professional, though I have been pro for 25+ years!

Anyway, your portrait is lovely. Is it a commission? Your daughter? I would love to know more about the creation of this because the moment you've captured has an unusual feeling to it.

Alex

Mark Lovett · 09-27-2005, 10:56 AM

Hi Alex,

Thanks for your comments and questions. At this early stage in my career, I usually am working on paintings that are not commissioned such as this one. However, when completed, if I have created something desirable, someone usually steps up to the plate and buys it. In a way it is kind of nice because I just follow my heart and paint exactly what I want, and if I touch someone else enough they buy it.

My wife gathered up a few of my brothers young daughters, dressed them nicely and we took them outside to a beautiful area and I took about 200 pictures experimenting with wide aperture settings with dappling sunlight through the shade.

After about 4 hours of going through the photos, tweaking and cropping in Photo shop etc...I came up with a few inspiring compositions that I wanted to paint. I chose several scenes that may be desirable to a gallery in case I need to go that route, and I was careful to get an accurate likeness in case my brother would want it. I would love to be able to gift it to my brother but this is all I am doing for a living right now and I have a family to support.