Wrapped in roses

[Allan Rahbek]

Originally Posted by Ardith Starostka

Thanks for all the positive comments.

It usually takes 3 layers to get things looking like I want them to. I don't glaze. I use a medium of stand oil and Gamvar. I spray in between layers with retouch varnish when needed.

Thanks again for all of your kind words.

Ardith

Ardith,

I am very fascinated by your works. After seeing your other posts it looks as you prefer a high contrast of value. And I would like very much if you would throw some more light on your working process.

You say that you go over the painting three times. What do you weight the first, second and third time. The reason that I ask so direct is that the method of under-painting is new to me, and also that I am told to listen to the best !!!!

Hope the best, Allan

[Sharon Knettell]

Just lovely, Ardith

After seeing this and the other entries in Boston, what I can't understand is how that ugly black thing beat this?

[Ardith Starostka]

Sharon,

What do you mean "ugly black thing"--please explain??? I was disappointed that I got an Honorable mention but I guess it was an honor just to have made it to the finals. I think this is the best oil I've done so far and I had great hopes for it. I would love to hear what the judges said! It would be nice if the PSA judges would jot down a few notes on each piece as they're judging and let each artist know what remarks were made about each piece. That could really help.

Allan,

I tone my canvas with thin burnt umber. I draw in thinned burnt umber directly on the canvas. I work from dark to light blocking in the darkest values, middle values and then light values. I just keep repainting each layer until I have achieved the opacity, correct values and colors that I am wanting. It usually takes three to four layers to correct all of my mistakes! I spray retouch varnish in between layers if my paint starts to look sunken in. That's about it in a nutshell...

Ardith

[Sharon Knettell]

Ardith,

I meant the first prize winner, the lady in black with a crooked mouth. I nearly fell off my chair when I heard that had taken the top prize.

I was trying to be subtle in my comment, something rare for me.

Honorable mention still does not detract from the beauty of your painting, but I must say I was horrified by the judges decision.

[Jean Kelly]

Thank you for the close-ups, Ardith. They are beautiful! There are so many different areas that I really like that I can't just comment on one, the straps of her dress, the roses and vines, her eyes, shoulder, and the dress as a whole. I guess I just really love the whole thing. Oh, and her mouth!

Jean

[Mike McCarty]

Ardith,

Congratulations, this is a wonderfully compelling piece of art.

I am always curious about how an artist comes to a particular composition. Was the complete composition in your mind from the start, or did you progress into the roses?

I can appreciate the uniqueness of this, having a daughter myself and having posed her hundreds of times in every conceivable position. Your mind struggles with trying to do it differently somehow. You really succeeded here.