Shawn looking forward

Vianna Szabo · 02-22-2006, 01:50 PM

Hi everyone

The sluggish Michigan economy is giving me time to play with my own paintings instead of commissions. This is a painting of my son and his unruly hair. He is much taller than me and this is how I commonly view him. I am practicing on speed, and on using a limited palette. This took 3 days and I used Cad Red Medium, Cad Yellow Medium, Ultramarine Blue, Ivory Black, and Titanium White, I under painted with a mixture of Transparent Red Oxide and Phthalo Green.

In real life the contrast between the hair and the skin is softer and the contrast between the cool light on the left and the skin is harder but I could not convince my camera of this.

Of all the paintings I have done of him this is the closest I have come to capturing his personality.

Thank you for viewing.

Vianna Szabo

Janet Kimantas · 02-22-2006, 06:02 PM

Vianna, It looks like I'm the first one to say what a wonderful painting this is. I'm sure dozens of others will chime in, too! This is really, really nice. Be very proud. Janet

Garth Herrick · 02-22-2006, 07:09 PM

Vianna,

I agree with Janet; this is quite wonderful! This is well composed and designed and seems to really capture your son. I'm impressed you did this on such a limited palette, for your color quality seems very good.

Garth

John Reidy · 02-22-2006, 07:32 PM

Hello, Vianna,

I'd like to add my "outstanding". Beautiful painting. I love the pose color, harmony and the drawing.

Outstanding!

Alexandra Tyng · 02-22-2006, 11:42 PM

Vianna, I love this! You really captured something in this portrait. Even though you feel the camera didn't quite capture the transitions (I can sympathize because even professional photos sometimes frustrate me), the colors in the skin and hair work extremely well. The real beauty, though, lies in the intangible aspects.

Vianna Szabo · 02-23-2006, 12:07 AM

Thank you, Janet, Garth,John, and Alexandra

This was a lot of fun to paint and I find the limited palette liberating. You can still mix an endless array of colors and tones without losing the unity of the original colors. Thank you also for the kind words about the "intangible aspects". This painting has a few rough spots but I felt I reached a point where it became him and decided to stop.

Those are indeed some terrific lips on that kid.

Thank you again for your comments.
Vianna

Ilaria Rosselli Del Turco · 02-23-2006, 05:25 AM

Vianna, what a strong convincing work.
I like the composition and the size of the head in the canvas, it says something about how close you are
Ilaria

Elizabeth Schott · 02-23-2006, 11:08 AM

Vianna, this is wonderful. Isn't it amazing what happens when the pressure is off!

I have a daughter her could meet!

Mischa Milosevic · 02-23-2006, 04:41 PM

Vianna, this is beautiful! Your son and your painting simply wonderful! I would not fret to much about your camera you mixed and placed what you saw and where you saw it and you feel good. Enjoy.

If we could only relax and execute each peace in the same manor. I believe life would be much simpler with more moments like this.

I love your subtle transitions. Could I trouble you for a few close ups? A bit closer for the shadow and light relationship, the nose eye triangle and then the neck.

Wish you all the best,
mischa

Linda Brandon · 02-23-2006, 07:31 PM

Vianna, I love your lush painting style - such a beautiful painting!