Jessica

Julianne Lowman · 07-12-2004, 11:34 PM

Okeedokey! Here I go. It's been a year since I last completed an oil portrait. Since then,
I've only been working on pastels - So please be gentle!

This portrait is of a beautiful young Polynesian - American lady. Her skin tone was very
unique and quite a change from the typical Caucasian or African American I'm used to.

The reference photo was taken with extreme back light in a dining room, but I thought her
beauty really popped out with a lower key background.

As I said, be gentle ...

Julianne Lowman · 07-12-2004, 11:36 PM

Julianne Lowman · 07-12-2004, 11:44 PM

Julianne Lowman · 07-12-2004, 11:45 PM

Leslie Ficcaglia · 07-13-2004, 08:36 AM

I think she's just lovely, Julianne. You've caught her face and expression beautifully, and I like the soft treatment. The dark background complements her skin and dress well; good choice. The only suggestion I'd make is to take another look at the color of the bodice versus that of the skirt; the skirt seems pinker and somehow of a different material than the bodice, so they don't appear to belong to the same article of clothing. I like the way the pink picks up the background but somehow the two segments need to be integrated better.

Is this a commission, and what made you choose oils rather than pastels? I think it works quite well, so I'm just wondering, not having pastels as an option yet myself.

Julianne Lowman · 07-13-2004, 09:57 AM

Leslie, thank you for your reply.

The fabric of the skirt is that of a knit velvet that is a nude color. The bodice is also nude, but made up of kind of a transparent mesh. The issue of color inbalance comes in with the beadwork. The beads are GOLD, and not a cool gold either a very lemon yellow type gold. I probably should have manipulated them a bit more, but I did this puppy in a very short time so I didn't have time to let it sit and age on me. Also there are hundreds of rhinestones grouped tightly within the clusters of gold beads. It's quite a stunning gown on stage!

I was studying Ingres, David, Stuart and Sargent's techniques on details of ornate fabrics. Oh, to paint like them! I had a diffcult time not overworking the beads and still give them detail, so I just started painting looser to keep the detail of the dress from overpowering the features of her face.

Just a note, the image has seemed to really pick up the ochre, it's not that pronounced in the finished piece.

Yes it was a commission, requested in oil.