Every time I paint a face, I learn something about the person being painted and something about myself.
A face does not have to be stately or symmetrical, but it needs to speak to me. Oftentimes, I find expressions that I identify with or abhor in these faces. Ultimately, I think it is the expression and implied emotion that carries the painting more than anything else.
Sometimes, the texture of skin may be in synchrony with the emotions depicted while at other times in dissonance. The skin of an old woman’s face that’s wrinkled and leathery with creases might signal decrepitude while at other times the sadness in the eyes and the mouth of a smooth silky skinned prostitute might also signal the same.
This time, I did not want to end this with a question, but wanted to just show this painting that I did a week back. As usual, comments and thoughts most welcome.
Sunil Gangadharan, ‘A Decay Darkly’, 40″ X 48″, Oil and gesso on masonite
Mostly, I think that you are experimenting with colors, running through the whole gamut, originally very bright yellows and reds, recently more moderate greens and blues and now, you are trying on subdued browns and greys.
Sunil,
This is quite different in color from previous work; it’s nice to see you extending your range, while remaining very much in Sunil territory. It also feels more realistic, partly because of the colors and also because of the collar and the implication of a setting in the background, which really works well. I like the greater subtlety this allows you; I suspect we pay more attention to details if we think they play a representational role.
Sunil,
The face of Evening Song did not signal decrepitude to me. The face shown here does.
Like Steve, I appreciate your experimenting with colors but unlike Steve, I find this picture more depressing than subtle.
Assuming this is Lincoln — with a few minor alterations — he has reason to be depressed!
“I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived.”
The background of this painting reminds me of the woods in Autumn. The beard feels oppressive to me but I really like this work.
Sunil.
Hard not to think of Abe but it cannot be: ear is too small.
The hair has a landed look: toupee (there is an interesting portrait project).
General flatness/stone/pale/ghost.
With figures/portraits: I believe that there is much to be gained by sensing that the person is fully round, weighted, two-sided.
I like the blemish under the nose.
Overall: I think you will benefit from pushing forward, not with ambition but for the experience.
Sunil:
Abe didn’t dress like a Victorian.
Your work keeps getting better. I enjoy the relationship of the background strokes to the hairy outskirts of this gentleman’s face.
Poor Thoreau. He must be rolling in his grave by now…
Steve and Birgit,
In addition to experimenting with colors, I am also learning the relationship between expressions and the colors that best suit them.
Tree,
Looks like you got it. Yes, Walden it is. Love those lines…
Like the title of this painting suggests, I wanted to point out the decay of Thoreau’s vision in todays world of carbon credits…
Yes, the beard is oppresive, but it does give the likeness…
D,
Yes, you got it. A landed look to the hair is right. I was not too happy with it, but will slowly iron out the deficiencies over time…
Stone/pale/ghost, I agree. The actual painting looks a lot better than the photo though. The critique is well taken nevertheless. I will keep trying.
Thanks
Thanks, Jay.
Tree,
Now that you posted a bit of it, I could not resist posting these lines…
I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, to discover that I had not lived. I did not wish to live what was not life, living is so dear; nor did I wish to practice resignation, unless it was quite necessary. I wanted to live deep and suck out all the marrow of life, to live so sturdily and Spartan-like as to put to rout all that was not life, to cut a broad swath and shave close, to drive life into a corner, and reduce it to its lowest terms, and, if it proved to be mean, why then to get the whole and genuine meanness of it, and publish its meanness to the world; or if it were sublime, to know it by experience, and to be able to give a true account of it in my next excursion.
Walden or Life in the Woods
– Henry David Thoreau (1817 – 1862)
Hey, I just like the painting.
Bob,
Good to hear from you. Browsing your blog, I just came up with a title for my next post.
Bob,
Glad you liked it. I very much enjoyed your latest ‘head’ painting. Has an easy blur.