Saturday, February 5, 2011

Gentle approach


Hello Little Bird
Original oil painting 20x16"
by Susan Roux

After being thrashed around by Scarlet, my hot ticket, I was determined to find innocence. I took Hello Little Bird to the opposite extreme. I needed to calm myself after the frustration and aggravation Scarlet the tartlet gave me.

I must admit that though my anger stills surfaces at the sight of her, I do think she's well done. I laugh thinking she may be the first in the series to sell. One thing for certain, she sparks conversation!

The art class that convened after she was painted was instantly in an uproar of excitement and laughter. I mentioned how I couldn't hang her on my wall because she still upset me so. Without hesitation, the gentleman in my class blurted that he would have no problem with her hanging on his wall! His eyes were popping out of his head. I think his forehead beaded with sweat. Comments of what this tartlet wanted rang sharply and continuously through the two hour session. Laughter on how she had control of me the entire time and my still visible anger permeated the room. Scarlet caused quite a raucous! At one point, I had to move her out of the gentleman's sight. She was too distracting for him to accomplish any painting...

By the end of class I had become the brunt of their jokes. Finally I picked her up and held her in front of my easel at the height she was when I painted her. Instantly the laughter stopped as they glimpsed the angle at which I was being stared at. That strong glaring attitude piercing down on me was extremely intimidating. Suddenly they understood my boiling feelings.

Next, an observation made from a beginner student, surprised me. She has only been painting since September. Her insight is keen and she mentioned that since I created her, there must be part of myself in her. Somewhere in my core is this floozy and perhaps I'm so upset with her because she exposes a part of me I like to keep hidden... Ouch.

Moving on to Hello Little Bird...

I started with a calm pose and changed a lot of things during the painting process. I was crabbing at a direction, a feeling, I wanted this painting to possess. I was unsure of what that should be. At the beginning I had a breaking wave in the foreground.

She didn't seem to want to pop like all my other girls in this series. Finally I removed the wave that lined up with the highlight of her skirt. She became a stronger image. I kept struggling with challenging focal points. I painted splashes around her feet. At one point the bird was nearly annihilated all together. A clear direction for this painting was not visible. Then it hit me. It was all about her approaching the bird. The splashes need to go. The feeling I was looking for was one of gentleness. A soft non-intimidating approach was necessary. The bird needed to trust her.

Finally with a clear focus, she quickly took on an angelic feeling. The drape of her dress reminded me of wings. I can almost imagine her raising her arms and watching them transform into beautiful, light-catching feathers in a vision on an angel that only the bird can see...


25 comments:

  1. Beautifully done, Susan. She seems to glide on the water. So serene.

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  2. C'est pour moi d'une éclatante beauté! vraiment toute cette lumière et c'est peu dire! si je pouvais voir cette toile de près je la dévorerai des yeux, c'est une merveilleuse réussite, je l'aime énormément! bravo Susan!!!

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  3. I think both paintings are very beautiful in different ways. I don't find the pink skirt offensive at all. jmho

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  4. Lovely.. Very soothing feel full of love.

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  5. I love Little Bird. The girl is so tall and slender. A most enchanting painting, Susan. Thanks so much for sharing. Susan

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  6. This is really a very nice painting, Susan. Well done!

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  7. C'est vraiment magnifique ! Tout est en nuances et pourtant si réaliste. On a l'impression qu'il y a quelques couleurs de plus et l'eau devient vaguelette, puis ciel... Très très beau !

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  8. Hello Susan,
    Very beautiful painting, the bird, the water, the girl and your colors! Amazing!
    Congratulations

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  9. I love the misty moodiness of this painting..very dream like. Wishing I were on that warm beach now!!!

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  10. I like the warm golden light to this one. I'd say you have beach weather on the brain. Don't we all?

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  11. In these last pieces of the women in the surf, I get such a sense of old masters to them...I think they've all been stunning, including the red skirt piece that gave you so much trouble. A truly gorgeous series, Susan.

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  12. Both girls make beautiful portraits, Susan! Your style is gentle and I do not think the first one looks too outrageous! Spanish dance would have similar movements. But of course the innocence is enduring and lasting. In the end "Hello Little Bird" has a lot of depth and meaning.

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  13. This is breath-taking Susan. I love it! and the title adds to the effect so nicely! It's really truly gorgeous.

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  14. This is so beautiful- just a sweet soft painting with a dreamy lovely feel. Wonderful.

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  15. Je sais qu'elle aussi t'a fait souffrir. Mais après l'effort, le réconfort... Tu peux rester contemplative devant elle... J'aime ta période romantique.
    Bisous

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  16. Hello Little Bird is beautiful and quiet. But, I love Scarlet and how she insisted on being part of this series.

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  17. Thank you Susan for your kind words. I agree with all that has been said above about your work but then you know that. Have a great day.

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  18. Unbelievable. You've done it again. Very different in feel. Again the background is masterful. This series is expressing so much. they're kind of Jungian in a way.

    My compliments,
    Wm

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  19. Beautiful work on this one. Loved the comments about Scarlet!! LOL!

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  20. Beautiful painting. The warm golden light is especially captivating.

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  21. Reminds me of a dream.....I like your work Susan! Thank you for visiting IPA!

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  22. interesting. Your insight in the progression of this painting Susan. I did like the wave and thought it a very nice painting. Your last version has certainly give it a tonalist look. I find your work more and more moving in that direction?? It sets a beautiful mood and I like the color scheme you have come up with. A very beautiful dreamy painting.

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  23. This is why I enjoy my visits here so much. You offer insight to the non-artist on your feelings and reasonings and what the painting does to you. I have never looked at art in this way. I do see that the more gentler picture of her approaching a clearer bird says more and I like it better than being about the waves. The beginner student was right, I venture to guess. We can't help but write or paint a little of who we want to be in our work:) I know I do!

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  24. Lovely mood in your painting! Thanks for commenting on my blog, and I think all parents can talk about their kids till they turn blue!

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