Young Harpist

Alexandra Tyng · 02-13-2006, 08:25 PM

Here she is in final form. I apologize for the long delay between her WIP debut and her unveiling. The contrast on the full view is not quite right, but this is by far the best I'm going to get it after playing around on Photoshop. This is from a CD; the color of the scanned slide was much worse, though the slide itself looks fine. Hope it reads well on other monitors. Thanks for looking!

Allan Rahbek · 02-13-2006, 08:51 PM

Wow Alex,
What a beautiful painterly work of art.

I like how you ended up with this painting, especially how it comes through that you know the figure and only serves the essence to us.

She seems to have full control, like a spider in her net.

Allan

Ps. Please fix the panel, it is not quite straight yet.

Garth Herrick · 02-14-2006, 12:41 AM

This is stunning, Alex. You have made a nice and seemingly effortless principal focus on the harpist. Thomas Eakins would like this.

Garth

Jean Kelly · 02-14-2006, 12:49 AM

She's beautiful, Alex. The colors are so rich and lush.

Jean

Joy Thomas · 02-14-2006, 04:07 AM

Congratulations, Alex!

I like the hue of the hair highlights.

Joy Thomas
www.portraitartist.com/thomas

Mischa Milosevic · 02-14-2006, 06:34 AM

Alex, grate job! I love the painterly look! Everything is there the sheer, the shine, precision and the flow. You have captured the grace of the sitter and the passion she has for music. Yes!

Cynthia Feustel · 02-14-2006, 08:00 AM

Alex,

I followed this closely in the WIP section. It was a privilege to watch your process, both in painting and the thought that went behind each decision. I'm so glad that you posted this finished work . It looks stunning on my computer. I can only imagine that in real life it must be truly impressive!!!

Alexandra Tyng · 02-14-2006, 09:38 AM

Allan, thanks all over again. Do you mean the baseboard? I swear I fixed the ^(*^)*&)(*#$^$% thing with a ruler no less, but it does look funny in the photo.

Garth, you are a pal! You keep likening my work to that of famous artists. First it was Peale, now Eakins. Of course you happen to pick some of my favorites. It might have too much color in it for Eakins' taste, though.

Alexandra Tyng · 02-14-2006, 10:05 AM

I forgot to mention the dimensions: 68" x 44"

Thanks Jean, Joy, Mischa, and Cynthia!

I realized I should give some kind of background information on this painting. It is part of a series I am working on so it was not originally a commissioned piece, but it may be purchased by the family of the girl. She is a teenager, a serious harpist, and this was an attempt to show a musician in the act of playing, accurately with respect to hand position, feet/pedal position, posture, etc. I wanted to capture the feeling of grace and hard work that go into playing the harp. It's really a very difficult instrument to play, because hands and feet are working together. Thanks for noticing that, Mischa. For those of you who haven't followed my WIP, it explains in more detail.

It's funny about color: I seem to enjoy it and appreciate it more as time goes on. The hair, Joy, happens to be one of my favorite parts of the painting because from afar it looks so dark, practially fading into the background, but when you get up close it is made up of all these purples, blues, and oranges. It was a lot of fun to paint.

Kimberly Dow · 02-14-2006, 10:53 AM

This is just gorgeous Alex! Congratulations! I so want to do larger pieces, youve inspired me.