Silhouette - for Beaux Arts Auction

Chris Saper · 02-02-2005, 10:35 PM

Every April the Scottsdale Artists' School holds an auction of miniatures, painted by the many instructors who have taught there as well as a number of students. It's a miniature show (they ask for 5" x 7") so with even a small budget you can pick up some wonderful work. It's also great fun - lots of people come in costume, and the major restraunteurs all set up tasting stations.

That tiny format is way too small for me, but this year I got sort of close , 10" x 8". Oil on Wallis paper. This little painting will go in an oversize Baroque frame.

Chris Saper · 02-02-2005, 10:39 PM

Here's the detail,just short of 1 1/2 " wide.

Terri Ficenec · 02-02-2005, 11:01 PM

Just Lovely, Chris! Beautiful color.
Is this your 'brown shawl' girl?

Mary Sparrow · 02-03-2005, 09:01 AM

She is beautiful Chris. Is this your daughter too? What do you do with all the portraits of your children? I am running out of wall space already and my oldest of 3 is only 6!

Sharon Knettell · 02-03-2005, 10:28 AM

Your color, radiant! What an exquisite portrait.

Is that your daughter? Does she want to come out here and pose?

David Draime · 02-03-2005, 11:59 AM

Beautiful. Very fresh, very painterly. I'm curious - how long did you work on this?

-David

Chris Saper · 02-03-2005, 01:16 PM

Thank you all. Yes, my daughter Alexandra - my best model and always so willing. She'd love nothing more to come pose for you, I am sure, Sharon.

Mary, as to the wall space thing, well, I am giving this one away. I tend not to like my paintings as much once they're a couple of years old, so I put them away, and some I just pitch, but have to do so when I won't get caught. Plus I need to have some original samples around, and these are as good as any to have available.

David, this is a very tiny painting, and I would estimate took me about 15 hours of actual painting time. I am lucky to have a pretty extensive bank of photos these days, all of terrific models, so I am never at a loss for material. I will pull one out when I am trying out new materials/techniques for the first time, as it is a bad idea to experiment on a client's piece.

Jean Kelly · 02-04-2005, 12:56 AM

Hi Chris,

This is a little gem. It's so hard to paint that small and to do it so beautifully!

Jean

Mike McCarty · 02-04-2005, 10:19 AM

Terrific painting Chris,

Would you use these materials, oil paint on sanded paper, for a client? What is your paper mounted on?

Kimberly Dow · 02-04-2005, 11:20 AM

Chris,

This is beautiful. I'm really impressed by the level of detail for such a small piece. I find that hard to do.