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Maggie, A Lesson Painting, Part III


 

Before running away to Saratoga over the weekend, I left Maggie on my easel with a cloak of rainbow colors. Today I got the chance to pick up my brushes and finish her portrait.

 

I began the painting session by laying down wide swathes of local color - however, you'll notice there remain small strips of the bold, hot hues around the edges of the forms. I'll leave these "peek-a-boo pockets" all over the painting - they will add some color zing to the end result.

 

After identifying the overall background value of the couch cushions, I defined the lighter stripes, focusing on the drape of the fabric and not so much on the proper values. These I would correct later with layers of glaze (translucent paint).

 
I also toyed with the patterned couch pillows, but determined they created too much pattern, and painted them out. I want the viewer's eyes to rest on Maggie, not to get distracted by a wealth of other details.

 

And here she is as she stands now - the stripes have been pushed back with some glazes, and the greatest density of detail is packed into the triangle made by her eyes and nose.

 
I'm waiting to hear from my client if there are any other tweaks needed to further capture her likeness. This waiting time is the absolute hardest part of painting portraits.

 
The piece is titled simply "Maggie." It's larger than life at 12" x 20", and done in Golden Open and Heavy Body Acrylics on an Ampersand Gessobord.
 

Want one of your own? Then email me!
 

Thanks, as always, for sharing my artwork with your friends and family,
Kim
 
 
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Comments

  1. martinealison2:43 AM

    Tout en douceur, tout en délicatesse... il semble heureux et apprécie...
    Très belle peinture. Je vous remercie de nous montrer l'évolution de votre travail grandiose.
    Gros bisous et bon weekend.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Kimberly Kelly Santini1:32 PM

    Thanks very much, Martine! You are always so kind about following along and commenting - I really appreciate it! hope you enjoyed your weekend as well, Kim

    ReplyDelete
  3. Louisette6:10 AM

    Georgous, love much, greeting from Belgium

    ReplyDelete
  4. Kimberly Kelly Santini10:36 AM

    Thanks, Louisette. Maggie is on her way to her new home in Colorado..... looking forward to hearing she got there safely! :)

    ReplyDelete

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