Model

I did this painting in one of my sketchbooks so it will show up again sometime in its page spread. But, I thought I’d enlarge on the story here. I used a photo in a magazine as my model. Really, I was interested most in her purse.

Well, maybe the purse will get its turn another time. This is the size this lady wanted to be. And she took up all the room on the page.

Acrylics on mixed media paper in my notebook.

22 thoughts on “Model”

    1. Claudia McGill Post author

      Thank you. I really meant to make this face much smaller (like I said I was interested in the purse…) but she took over. I am happy with how this turned out, and kind of surprised.

    1. Claudia McGill Post author

      Thank you. I was originally attracted to the face because of her expression and I feel I did pretty well in capturing her (or at least not mangling her!)

    1. Claudia McGill Post author

      Thank you. These photo models often have such intriguing expressions – why are they all so sour? – that this one really caught my attention. Of course, also her purse.

  5. Laura (PA Pict)

    There’s a strong mood to this painting. The figure looks very assured and assertive and like she is not about to tolerate the nonsense that is occurring just off page.

    I am glad to read about your change from the planned scale with this drawing. That is something I often have problems with, hence my use of wonky proportions.

    1. Claudia McGill Post author

      Thank you. I like how she turned out. I do wish I had more control over size and so on but then, I think this is so much better at this scale. I think the paint and brush guided me (I like to think this, anyway) to a better result.

    1. Claudia McGill Post author

      Thank you. I am so intrigued as to why the models have to look so disturbed (I’d be pretty happy with an outfit and purse like that, I think…) but as an artistic subject, well, she was perfection.

      1. agnesashe

        Yes, I have discussed this issue of grumpy models with my daughter every time she models for me and neither of us have the answer, but when you look back over the decades not even Twiggy smiled.

        1. Claudia McGill Post author

          I am wondering that the thinking might be, if the model smiled, the viewer would be attracted to the face and not the clothing or whatever. A sour face kind of repels being looked at and redirects the focus? As I think about it I feel I would behave this way.

  9. elmediat

    Great interpretation. 🙂
    My wife had an assignment for her students. They would select a magazine ad or cover, and then cut it in half. They would create a composition, where half was the original piece of media, and the other half was their painted version. Quite the challenge.
    I’m updating Dark Pines Photo. Your art & poetry blogs are now listed in the links’ category, Art – Creativity & Society.

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