Grace Ewart Wells

Karin Wells · 05-13-2002, 08:40 PM

Oil on Linen 18" x 14" Second of a series of three portraits to hang in the Wells Memorial School, Harrisville, NH.

This is my first portrait using Genesis (non-toxic heat set oil paint).

Karin Wells · 05-13-2002, 08:43 PM

And here is a detail....

Mike McCarty · 05-13-2002, 09:49 PM

Beautiful Karin, what relation to this woman are you? Tell us the story regarding the memorial. Will you stick with this paint?

Karin Wells · 05-13-2002, 10:48 PM

This is a portrait of my husband's grandfather's first wife Grace. It is from a very old sepia photo. Her skin and hair coloring are taken from a photo of her daughter who resembled her. She died when she was still in her 20's. Grandaddy soon married again, and his second wife Elizabeth tragically died at an early age leaving three young children.

Grandpa, left with 4 small children, never married again. In his later years, he donated a large chunk of his land and helped the town build a grade school. This school is dedicated to his two wives.

I have been asked to paint Grandaddy (Wellington) Wells, Grace Ewart Wells and Elizabeth Brewer Wells. These portraits will hang, side by side, in the school.

All the paintings will be the same size and I plan to use the painted oval device in all of them.

I really like the Genesis paints and I plan to begin new work with them. They look and "paint" like traditional oils.

Normally this portrait would have taken a couple of months (maybe more) with traditional paints because of the long drying times. This Genesis painting was done in a day and a half!

Lon Haverly · 05-14-2002, 01:16 AM

You are an inspiration to all of us. Where did you get that frame????? I am doing a painting of my grandfather from an old black and white when he was 20. It is a very nice experience.

Karin Wells · 05-14-2002, 08:13 AM

Here is the place where I often get my (inexpensive) picture frames:

http://www.jfmenterprises.net/

(Please note that the oval is a trompe l'oeil - it is painted onto the canvas and is not part of the frame).

Rochelle Brown · 05-15-2002, 12:44 PM

I like those frames. Is it easy to get the resale tax certificate?

You really seem to be taking off with with your new found paint. It's nice to hear that you won't have to worry about all the dangers of toxic substances.

I don't think I'm ready for a new way of painting. Maybe I'm attatched to nostalgia. It's almost scary to think you can finish a painting in such a short amount of time.

Karin Wells · 05-15-2002, 04:43 PM

Because I include the frame in the pricing of my portraits, I can buy the frames at the wholesale price from JFM. If you "resell" there should be no problem obtaining frames from JFM. If you wish a tax number, inquire at your local town hall...

As to the traditional oils vs. Genesis, I probably wouldn't have thought to change anything regarding my materials if I had managed to stay healthy. It was the surprise of my life to discover that I needed to switch materials or possibly quit painting. I never was much good at playing the viola...so, I switched to a different kind of paint.

Traditional oils are wonderful! I even miss the smell... I'd say that if something really works for you, don't "fix" it. Lots of folks use toxic substances every day and don't get hurt. I wasn't that lucky. Thank God for Genesis, as I have many more paintings in me and such a limited time to do them in...

Michele Rushworth · 05-20-2002, 11:41 PM

Karin, I liked what you wrote at the end of your last post ("I have many more paintings in me and such a limited time to do them in.") I wrote that out, along with your name, and stuck it up in my office! Thanks for the reminder.