The color was pretty darn close, but I still tweaked it a bunch. I never copy color exactly. I try to enhance the effects I see as relating to the scene I'm creating. If you would compare the complexion of a Bouguereau painting to a real person his color looks wrong. But in the context of his paintings it's so incredibly lifelike.

For whatever reason I cannot for the life of me reproduce the subtle color changes I paint when I shoot my work, so what you're seeing here is missing a lot of nuance.

I used the Alkyd primed Claessens (is this the right spelling). It has a little more tooth than the DP13 and I like the way it grabs the paint. I have still not found my perfect canvas so I'm always trying different ones. This is the canvas I use for my demos and when doing alla prima (one shot) portraits.

This portrait was actually commissioned as an alla prima painting but was not done from life due to her age. When I finished the alla prima stage I felt that I wanted to keep refining her face and just I kept painting for another couple of days. Thus was born my new genre...The Portrait Vignette, which combines elements of both my finished and more spontaneous approaches.

Marvin--

We probably have the same DeCamp book. He's one of my faves. "The Blue Mandarin Coat" at the High Museum in Atlanta IS gorgeous.

Best--TE

If you're gonna quote movie stars, Marvin - let me quote that estimable thespian Keanu Reeves: "Whoa..."

Correct me if I'm wrong (has that ever happened?), but this is a benchmark piece. I just love the juxtaposition of your highly polished style against the spontaneous look of the underpainting. A perfect foil, if you will.

I also think it's terrific that this is the great-granddaughter of your subject in Sylvia at Seventeen. Generations of Mattelson portraits! Pretty cool, no?

You had best enter this in a few portrait society juried shows. I predict Prix de Rome!

Best,

Rob

She is beautiful Marvin, this is one of my favorites of your paintings.


I don't know Mike... I was just at Ellis Island two days ago, and have newfound respect for people who made it to (and through) there. It was interesting looking at their photo portrait wall of faces from around the globe.

Anyway, thanks for posting this Marvin.

Holly

Thanks Rob, the Prix de Rome would be nice (four years in Rome!?!), but I don't think that's an option these days. Maybe the Booby Prize is more like it?

Holly, I'm glad you like it. I too am exploring ways to get looser and not sell out my soul. It worked in this case anyway. I think Mike was referring to Rikers Island when he suggested Ellis Island. Rikers is a prison while Ellis is where the immigrants were processed.

I was meaning Rykers Island. Too much island rum.

Marvin,

Finding the words adequate enough to express my level of appreciation of this painting will fall short of the techinical and emotional impact that it provides. Please accept
Very well done.

Thank you Jim. I'm very touched by your sentiments.

Marvin,

For what it is worth, I think you are a gem yourself. I've said it before and I will say it again, not everyone who paints really good is a really good teacher. I am proud to be on the list of people who choose to learn from you.

Just one thing.........can you get me there sooner? ; )

How do you sleep at night knowing you can paint like this? She is beautiful. Absolutely beautiful!

Thanks for the acknowledgment. I m very thankful to be able to do what I do. I don't think it makes me better than anyone else, just different. People who are arrogant because they excel at something are missing the point. Every day is a blessed event.

I believe true artists always have an eye peeled toward improving, regardless of their level of achievement. I know the more I learn, the greater my thirst for knowledge.

My to-do lists are filled with far more entries that I can ever hope to get to. When my head hits the pillow there is no problem asleep.