The Newmans

[Linda Nelson]

50" wide x 38" high

When this couple commissioned me, we were intending to do a composition that was "traditional" . After the "shoot" for the reference photos for the painting, we enjoyed the park we were at. I continued to take photos, and this became a moment that truly revealed this wonderful family.

They were trusting enough to let me go with this second inspiration as our painting, and this is the result.

Note: I think one neat thing to mention in this painting is that Ruby, the beagle, was a marriage gift from the husband to the wife. Ruby is getting on in years, and it quite ironic that she finds herself in the middle one the painting, linking loyalty with the parents and attention to the children, and being the only subject in the painting who seems to be addressing the viewer. Her role in this composition made everything else about this painting all the more signficant For both the client and I this was a nice surprise for us all at that end analysis of the project.

[Richard Monro]

Linda,
i believe i would recognize a Linda Nelson painting anywhere. Your high key style is distinctive and that is great. You have your own voice.

What a lovely setting. I can feel the warmth of the summer afternnon and the cool water. Nice work.

[Claudemir Bonfim]

Hi Linda,

What a wonderful composition.
I'll keep admiring it for a long time.

[Alexandra Tyng]

Hi LInda,

The composition is, I think, the most outstanding thing about this painting. It seems utterly natural, so I'm guessing it's the combination of your good directions, the family's natural inclunations, and maybe some fortuitous circumstances that made this come together. I don't mean to imply that it's not thought out. You obviously thought about this a lot, and it shows.

I notice the shoreline, and how it comes in at the left foreground and curves around toward the right middle distance. My eye travels naturally from the daughter to the son to the parents and dog, where it stops at the vertical bunch of tree trunks. So the shoreline ties everything together, kind of like the string in a necklace with a few choice stones on it.

Other than that, the body language of the family members is really expressive. I love how the dog is the only one looking straight at the viewer, and you expressed so well her position in the family!

Alex

[Linda Nelson]

thanks guys - I'm glad you're liking it! I will have to repost the images - I don't know why the overall darks are so grayed with dark red patches. The actual painting is not as "chalky" and uneven in it's darks.

[Tom Edgerton]

Linda--

Even though the execution is in the inimitable Linda Nelson loose style, the overall effect is very integrated and whole. The light is fabulous.

A great painting!--TE

[Patricia Joyce]

Beautiful, Linda.
I am sitting at my desk at work, crying! Very moving painting! Excellent execution. I wish I could see this one in person.
Congratulations

[Linda Nelson]

Thanks Tom, that means a lot


Thanks Patricia, wow to have painted something that moves someone to tears is a home run.

[Terri Ficenec]

Linda, this is just beautiful -- so well put together. The light through the trees and on the water --lovely. You've captured a real sense of place and a timelessness to it too. Beautiful!

[Michele Rushworth]

What a great composition and sense of light!

Question for you: have you done much plein air painting? Your outdoor portraits are particularly strong, I think.