Steve

[Alexandra Tyng]

Well, I've been agonizing over what people would say about this one, because I really put my heart into it. My husband has been making excuse after excuse about why he won't pose for a portrait, until finally I simply announced, "Okay, I've got this idea and I need you to pose." I think my years of contemplating how to paint him resulted in an attempt to put it all into one. Who knows if I'll get another chance?

Michele, I appreciate your comments so much, especially coming from someone so talented and accomplished. That was my intent exactly, so I am glad it came though in the painting. It's funny that, although I intentionally tried to communicate certain things, I also felt the painting kind of taking over and doing it through me.

Brenda, thank you so much for your appreciation of the details, and for appreciating the feeling aspect. That is always so important to me when I am painting. As for your WIP, I'm always glad to be of some help.

Molly, Yes, it will be in the show. The cat is a sable Burmese. Our other cat is also a Burmese, but a different color.

Lacey, wow, I am so honored to think I can be inspiring to someone.

Thanks so much to all of you!

Here's an extreme closeup which I couldn't fit on the original post:

[Brenda Ellis]

Alexandra,
I do have a question. Did you do this all from a photo or did you get your subject to sit (stand) for you for part of it?
I admire the consistency of the light on the subject and in the room. Is the light exactly as you saw it or did you adjust the light in some areas to work with the composition?

[Alexandra Tyng]

Hi Brenda,

Usually I do a color study from life if the person is willing or able to give me about an hour or so. I take photos and create the composition from a combination of the idea in my head, thumbnail sketches, and photos. In this case it was a hot day and my husband was breaking out in a sweat, though the air conditioner was on. I think it was the afternoon and the sun was heating up the room. I felt sorry for him, so I let him off the hook and painted him from the photos, which happened to have turned out extremely well. If I have a really good reference I can work from the photos because I have done so many portrait sketches from life, I know what I'm looking for and how to interpret the references. As I was painting the room, there were passages where I felt I did not have enough information of detail or color, so I did those parts from life.

The color is generally what I see, but at the same time I'm always interpreting and making choices and adjustments. I don't think a work of art should ever be simply a literal rendering of life. It puts things together from life into a meaningful whole. I always think of it as being like a writer choosing descriptive words or not writing every word of the conversation. Not to get all philosophical on you ( a bad habit), but you could say the color is derived from a direct observation of life.

This is what happens when you ask me a simple question!

Alex