Connie, 11" x 14"

Alexandra Tyng · 06-04-2008, 10:49 AM

I thought you might like to see a small study I did of a neighbor of mine who kindly offered to model for my portrait class. She teaches Hawaiian dance and I asked her to come in costume. She even danced for the class, which everyone enjoyed. I didn't have much time to work on this, so I finishd the Lei and dress from a photo at home, but the rest was done as a demo for class.

Michael Georges · 06-04-2008, 10:54 AM

Wow Alexandra, this is lovely and very finished looking! I love the flowers around the neck, and the great and subtle variations you have in your skintones.

Can you tell a bit about how long you painted, what it is on, etc?

David Draime · 06-04-2008, 11:15 AM

Exceptionally beautiful. This is really one to come back to, again and again.

David

Chris Saper · 06-04-2008, 11:45 AM

Yum, Alex! I love the lush color harmony and the design of this painting!

Bob Botha · 06-04-2008, 12:01 PM

That is a great painting, Alexandra, I can learn so much from it! I wish my paintings were as loose, yet accurate as yours!

Bob

Alexandra Tyng · 06-04-2008, 04:32 PM

Thank you, Michael, David, Chris and Bob! This just happened to be a tad better than the usual dud.

I really am not sure how much time I actually spent on it. She posed for a total of about 8 hours, so I'm estimating I got about two hours total time to work on this, but as I said that doesn't include the dress and flowers which I roughly blocked in from life and finished later from a photo. Usually my students are so impatient to start painting that they don't want to stand around watching me do a demo.

It's oil on linen, toned with umber, black and white.

Enzie Shahmiri · 06-04-2008, 11:03 PM

This is lovely Alexandra! I especially love the wishful look she has. I'll bet she would have rather been in Hawaii than hold still... LOL

Allan Rahbek · 06-05-2008, 06:48 AM

It's lovely, Alex and lively, you even got the Hawaii'n sunset included.

Alexandra Tyng · 06-05-2008, 12:51 PM

Thanks, Enzie! Connie has such expressive eyes. Sometimes she looks elfin to me.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Allan Rahbek

you even got the Hawaii'n sunset included.

Ha! Allan, I should have known that, if I posted a portrait sketch from life, you would spot the incidental odd blooper and give it a relevant symbolic meaning! Now I can say it was intentional.

Remember the kiss?
http://forum.portraitartist.com/showthread.php?t=6825

Allan Rahbek · 06-05-2008, 03:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alexandra Tyng

Remember the kiss?
http://forum.portraitartist.com/showthread.php?t=6825

I do remember.

Every artwork should be personally kissed, all of yours certainly are.