Toby and Leslie
Original oil painting 20x16"
by Susan Roux
I can't tell you the amount of hours I put in this painting. Rest assured I was elated when I laid down my final strokes! I couldn't help but think of Carol Nelson who blogged awhile back, 100 portraits in 100 days. I'm impressed at all of you who post a daily painting. Not only are you completing a painting every day, but also taking time to blog about it. We can't all keep up that pace... Its very admirable that you do. I tip my hat to you.
I had days where I spent every moment from early morning to suppertime planted in front of my easel. My focus was so intense that every time I did this, the following day I needed to rest. It was as though my brain was empty, almost in a haze, and my spirit and energy were drained. I suppose I was really pushing myself...
Wednesday, when all my students saw it nearly done, they were baffled that I wasn't enthused with it. I didn't like the feeling it had. I wanted to capture the sense of love/admiration and all I had managed was the look of porcelain dolls. After I completed the faces, I worked with the background and succeeded a bit in capturing that emotion I wanted. Yes the colors are better in life and the feeling more apparent too.
I learned so much doing this piece. I started off expecting to spend a few days on it as an exercise and move on. As you know, that didn't happen. I hope to capture my next portrait quicker so a bit more of a painterly look will remain. The day I worked on smoothing out my color transitions to soften Leslie's features, is the day the porcelain feeling appeared. There must be a way of painting it soft without turning them to ceramic. My next subject will be a single head.
As I look at it this morning, I am kind of amazed I was able to accomplish this. Suddenly a separation from it, no longer being my lingering job, allows me to have a different perspective. Don, thanks for all your help. Even telling me to start over, though it was the last thing I wanted to hear at the moment.
I may take a few days to go paint in plein air before settling down to a new face....
Toby is my husbands son. He plays guitar in a rising band called Sparks the Rescue. He's toured the country many times and also toured in Europe. Recently they took part in the exhausting Warped Tour, where more than 70 bands played. They have a video that airs on MTV called We Love Like Vampires. You can view it at their official site by clicking their name. Please let me know if your children may have heard of them...
Enjoy your day creatively!
This is a most marvellous painting comeing from a lady I would so dearly love to call my friend. You are an ispiration and a joy.
ReplyDeleteThe feeling that this evokes to me is powerful. The background and warm glow around Toby shows love and admiration... I feel. Every time I look at your paintings I realize I have a lot to learn.
ReplyDeleteI witnessed your frustration with this painting, and I have to say, Wow! It turned out great! I think it shows a lot of emotion! Love it!
ReplyDeleteBTW, I see that you live in Poland, Maine. I grew up in Maine, born in Portland (that's where the hospital was!), lived first in Falmouth, then moved to a farm in North Yarmouth, and graduated from U of Maine in Orono. Have you lived in Poland for long? I have family in Maine, but I currently live in California -- where I never thought I'd ever live! LOL
Looks like a true labor of love, Susan. Beautifuly done.
ReplyDeleteI think this lovely work does, indeed, capture a sense of love and admiration. Well done! Susan
ReplyDeleteI think it is a beautiful painting, has a wonderful, warm and loving feel to it.
ReplyDeleteI understand what you mean about not being able to account for how many hours. People often ask me that question. On the rare occasion that I might know they look at me like they don't believe it or they say I would never have the patients.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful! Well worth taking the time and patience to get it right. Enjoyed reading about the process.
ReplyDeleteBeautifully expressed Susan!
ReplyDeleteSusan, I think this came out so very beautifully. The love on your stepson's face, the joy on her's...Just amazingly beautiful. I was intrigued by your artist's writhings as I go through similar with any pieces I do. I hope this will be a gift to your stepson. He is going to be simply awed.
ReplyDeleteYou have a nice blog.
ReplyDeleteYour works are beautifull.
J also follow you.
Many greetings from Switzerland.
Susan, great work on this double portrait! Thanks for sharing all the ups and downs of the process. I enjoyed watching the steps. Congratulations on your tenacity..it certainly paid off!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the mention, Susan. I thought you captured the emotion extremely well in this portrait. The couple seems to bask in each others company.
ReplyDeleteI found the pose your stepson is in - 3/4 view with the face tilted downward - was sometimes hard to pull off. You did it perfectly.
You also have lots of marvelous color in the faces. This double portrait is a beauty.
What a beautiful painting, Susan! It was worth the effort. I understand what you felt when trying to push yourself. The same happened to me. I went on holiday and took my brushes, tubes, paper etc to my hometown where I stayed. I thought I would be able to paint at least one watercolour every two days but it didn't work out. I realized that I needed to have a rest and let my mind wander for a while to find a new interesting topic and get my energy back.
ReplyDeleteIt took time and patience to paint your painting but the result is simply gorgeous.
It's a poetic painting...the two youngs are very tender! And what a beautiful blog...Arianna
ReplyDeleteIt came out beautifully. Well done.
ReplyDeleteCongrats on the finish of a fine couple of portraits. I really listened while You explained your use of measuring in Photoshop. That would be a much better way than how I was doing it.
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