Complementary Anna
 

Hi everyone,

This was fun and fast. 16X20 pastel on Wallis

Thanks for looking.
Vianna

Vianna, grate job! Nice volume, values, pose and the values in your red well done as well. I especially like the way you handled the reflected lights.

Thank you Mischa,

I loved the simple shapes of the pose and that the value of the red shawl was the same as the value of the green background.

Vianna,

You are such a master of color! This is so strong in every way I can think of. The composition is just right, simple but not static. The way her head is tilted forward and slightly off-center, and the way her hands are holding the shawl, indicate forward motion, as if she's intending to go somewhere. This is brilliant because the shawl is not a "prop" but a garment. And of course its color and substance make it a prominent element in the painting. Another striking thing is the red and green, as you say. Then the less intense red of her hair with the yellow-green add this unexpected dimension to the red-green contrast. Last but not least, I think she has a unique face and fascinating expression.

Thank you Alexandra,

She had posed for us the night before and I shot some photos of this beautiful pose. She came out looking much older in the photos so I wanted to see if I could capture her teenage look. It was a rare painting that went fast and I was pleased with.

This is very nice. Strong and solid - which is a very good achievement for a quick pose.

Vianna,

I guessed I missed this beauty.

The color is sophisticated, beautiful and complementary.

The brilliant red is offset by the blue-green in the corner, and the dull yellow-green is a wonderful foil for the lively pinks in her face.

You are using color as color, not something just to fill in the form. Few artists understand that, you do.

Lovely.

Thank you Sharon,

I really appreciate your comments. I now have four different pastel paintings of Anna in the red shawl. One of them is going to the Pastel Society of America show in New York. I love the red against her pale skin and dark hair. Yesterday my mother loaned me a floor length black velvet jacket from the 1930's. I think a series of oils could be in the works.

I am teaching two classes on color this fall. I get so excited teaching these courses because I find that once artist's can identify what colors are really before them and not what they think the color of something should be that their work becomes more lively.

Again thank you for your comments I am very flattered.

So glad Sharon popped this thread back up again - it's always a pleasure to see your work, Vianna, and I am really happy to see that you're teaching a color class, good for you!

I remember standing transfixed in front of one of your paintings when it was down here in Scottsdale for a show. Your color sense is totally luscious and edible (I mean this as a complement :)).

Wow Linda,

"totaly lucious and edible" I am adding that to my resume!

Thanks