Yep, it's sure a lot more skin than your regular head-and-hands portrait.

Linda, you already know how much I like this piece. The "sensuous line", as it were, need not be provocative as much as evocative. Here, the sense of "languor" is certainly evoked. As I'd mentioned to you before - the most sensual aspect in this piece stems from what is not revealed as opposed to what is. The piano shawl itself is a sensual, flowing object, and is an integral part of this work, as opposed to a mere prop.

I've only seen a few Sanden and Schmid nudes, but they seem to fall into the more painterly/less volume category (off the top of my head). Shanks' nudes are very engaging: direct gazes with energetic lines & very volumetric - but to me they convey more of a sense of character along the lines of a portrait. But then you have to keep in mind that this is what I've tried to go for in my figurative work, so it's really in the eye of the beholder.

I don't think there's a standard formula for an "inoffensive nude", meaning that, if someone wants to find something offensive in it, they will find it no matter how conservative the piece. Don't be put off by those who may have hangups about the human body, or piano shawls for that matter ;)

To a Skylark

Percy Bysshe Shelley

HAIL to thee, blithe Spirit!
Bird thou never wert,
That from heaven, or near it,
Pourest thy full heart
In profuse strains of unpremeditated art

With thy clear keen joyance
LANGUOR cannot be:
Shadow of annoyance
Never came near thee:
Thou lovest; but ne

Linda,

You know I think this is gorgeous - I saw it awhile back when you first finished. I wish I could see this one in person like Chris has! The painting is wonderful and the pose is engaging.

I love this painting, Linda!

There is a LANGUOR of the Life
More imminent than Pain -
'Tis Pain's successor - when the Soul
Has suffered all it can - A drowsiness diffuses -
A dimness like a Fog
Envelops Consciousness -
As Mists - obliterate a Crag. The Surgeon does not blanch at pain
His habit is severe -
But tell Him that it ceased to feel -
The Creature lying there - And he will tell you - skill is late -
A Mightier than He -
Has ministerd before Him -
There's no Vitality.

Emily Dickinson

Dear Linda,

This is such a decisive, strong, and poetic painting. The simple harmonious color theme gives clarity to the message of this highly original pose. This lovely figure beckons us to join her and reflect upon those challenges and tribulations we all face in life. I love crisp handling of this painting. It's a worthy, thoughtful, and wholesome addition to this new section of nudes. I'm glad we can see her as a complete and whole person now.

Garth

Linda in the nicest way... you have such a way with women! Beautiful!

I second Garth here, on this being a worthy addition to the nude section. I'm so glad to see this posted in full, it's a beautiful painting Linda.

Jean

Terri, I sketched her face on paper, took some photos, and realized after I took the photos that I was getting some kind of photo distortion no matter how far away I placed my camera or what zoom I used. When I say 'distortion' I mean that she just didn't look the way I saw her with my eye - the photos tended to drain the S-curve energy I saw in the pose. So I sat down and read everything I could find about figure perspective. Basically, what you want to do is establish an eye level and look up at her head and hands and down at her feet. (I went to several museums last year and sketched lots of full-sized figurative works and confirmed for myself that this is what a lot of artists did.) I ended up reshooting the foot with another model and wrapped the shawl over Half Nelson, my stuffed long underwear model (I do this a lot) to get some life practice in with fabric folds. Sorry to be so long-winded.

Many thanks to everyone, including Percy, for the kind remarks - they are much appreciated.