An artist and his puppet

Piety Choi · 07-27-2005, 01:04 PM

Hi, I painted it last April. I was inspired by a young artist who was showing his loving heart for his creature. He is an installation artist. I tried to show the deep relationship of artists and their artworks through this painting.

30x40, oil on canvas.

Please, give me some your words!

Garth Parker · 07-28-2005, 02:30 AM

Piety,
This seems to be a very personally influenced work. I

Henry Wienhold · 07-28-2005, 11:43 AM

I agree with Garth you certainly have caught the mood and character. You handle a brush very well, this portrait has a soft quality about it, which is very important when you want to convey a message as well as you have here. I also like the way you captured light on the mans face.

I only have a few suggestions, the mans ear looks unfinished, it's value correlation with the rest of his head seems to be off, that portion of his head appears to be in a darker shaded area and the ear appears to light. In the background that colorful circular object is distracting. It interferes with the gaze of the man toward his puppet. You may want to gray that object down a little, then it will recede into the background, or you may decide to remove it all together.

Piety Choi · 07-28-2005, 11:49 AM

Thanks, Garth!

I'm glad you said that the painting captured the mood and character. Sharing ideas and thinking would be good critiques.

Piety Choi · 07-28-2005, 01:14 PM

Hi, Henry!

Thank you so much for your nice comments for me. Those are making me to look at the painting again carefully. Yes, the ear looks roughly done. But the ear color comes lighter in this photo than in the original painting. I don't know why. It's almost same tone as his cheek. May be I should use more darker color to make the ear faded in to shade(?).

And I agree with you about the background. I should try to reduce the tone of background object. I'm afraid to remove whole thing, because I like its circle shape that connects with the space of his body and arms. I'd like to make the artist's conversation fly around those spaces. But I think it's only in my mind, not expressed on the canvas!

Thank you again for your wise advice.

Kimber Scott · 07-28-2005, 01:42 PM

Piety, this is such a moving piece. The emotion is very powerful (I love the warm light) and the composition is strong. Beautiful work. I have no critique other than what's already been said here. Maybe, tone down the circular object in the background, but I wouldn't remove it, it serves its purpose beautifully.

Piety Choi · 07-28-2005, 04:11 PM

Hi, Kim!

Thank you for your warm words!

Alexandra Tyng · 07-29-2005, 09:10 AM

Piety,

I've come back several times to look at this stunningly original, fascinating portrait. It is more than a portrait. You suggest a story and a relationship beyond the likeness, so in that way it could be thought of as figurative, but it is also more than a figurative work. I agree that you should not remove the round object in the background. You have integrated the background beautifully with the man and his puppet.

I would love to see the work in person sometime. I am in Narberth so we live near each other.

Alex

Piety Choi · 07-29-2005, 11:41 AM

Hi, Alex! Welcome to be a new member of the Forum. We might be passed by each other at the grocery store sometimes!! But I have moved out to Drexel Hill few months ago. Still It's not that far from Narberth. I think we can meet together and see the art works in person someday. Or I can invite you when I have an exhibition.

Thank you for sharing your thoughts and encouragement.
Piety

Garth Herrick · 07-29-2005, 12:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Piety Choi

Hi, Alex! Welcome to be a new member of the Forum. We might be passed by each other at the grocery store sometimes!! But I have moved out to Drexel Hill few months ago. Still It's not that far from Narberth. I think we can meet together and see the art works in person someday. Or I can invite you when I have an exhibition.

Thank you for sharing your thoughts and encouragement.
Piety

Hi Piety,

This is a wonderful painting! I love it. No wonder we all are returning to see it again. I love the original and interesting cropping and composition. I would also like to see this in person.

Maybe we can all cross paths at Trader Joe's in Ardmore. I also have been to the
Drexeline !

Garth