Costuming - Page 2

Kimberly Dow · 09-10-2004, 09:33 AM

Kimonos and capes - those are two things on my list, but havent found in my price range yet.

OK- my question is - why are the bird wings in your freezer? And has anyone ever defrosted one for dinner by accident? Did you pluck these off living birds (I will see you in a different light if the answer is yes!) - and just out of pure curiosity - what are they for exactly?

Here is a funny thing - we just moved to a ranch for perhaps as little as a year for the husbands work - so the kids of course got a 4-wheeler and have bugged me for a horse. That was easy to say no to - since we'd most likely have to get rid of it later...but - my father-n-law almost has me convinced to get chickens (there are tons of corrals and coops here for all types of animals). The only reason I may say yes to the chickens is if I can get a colorful rooster and make it tame so I can get it in a painting! The kids are just shaking their heads at me - I choose pets (and just about everything else) based on whether I can paint them.

Linda Brandon · 09-10-2004, 11:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kimberly Dow

OK- my question is - why are the bird wings in your freezer?

This is for my postponed angel project, see: http://forum.portraitartist.com/show...4&page=2&pp=10 (I have received an amazing number of very interesting private emails about this post, by the way.)

I love birds and would never hurt one! I paint with one on my shoulder.

Kimberly Dow · 09-12-2004, 07:02 PM

Tastes like chicken!

I was just messing with you - I've seen your bird. A little on the bald side, but many people I love are on that side as well

Sharon Knettell · 09-19-2004, 11:55 AM

Kimberly,

If I were ever to wear one of my costumes in public,
I in all likelyhood be chaperoned to the nearest loony-bin.

Linda,

The corsets are fabulous. The make great painting shapes and keep the model from slumping. One of my students in the apparel depatment at RISD turned me on to them. She also knew the best and most reasonable sites. That can make a difference. I bought two corsets on Ebay, both about the same price. One fitted beautifully (the Ms. Antionette), the other was poorly made and fitted poorly (the Kiss Proof Girls).

I have had very good luck with www.meschantes.com. She made some of the corsets for the movie Moulin Rouge. They are made and fit beautifully, plus being quite reasonable.
You can also have one made for yourself for the holidays.
They REALLY give a girl's chest an eye popping lift!

The officers pants. Were they removed from the subject in the imagination?

Linda Brandon · 09-19-2004, 07:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sharon Knettell

You can also have one made for yourself for the holidays.

Halloween, you mean?

As far as the white pants are concerned, don't you think it's time for a male corporate clothing revolution? Haven't we had enough dull navy or gray suits? Women portrait artists, I challenge us to demand more interesting male sartorial choices for our subjects!

Here's one of the paintings I sketched on a recent visit to the National Gallery in London. It's Sir Joshua Reynold's "General Sir Banastre Tarleton." The subject was not nice to Americans during the Revolutionary War ( including an attempt to pick off Thomas Jefferson) but I love Reynold's dramatic painting of him.

Sharon Knettell · 09-20-2004, 01:33 PM

Linda,

I was thinking more on the line of making your own holiday wearing one of them.

I cannot count the number of people who have told me, DO CORPORATE PORTRAITS!. THAT IS WHERE THE MONEY IS! You will make a fortune. I would if I could have some suits screen printed on innumerable canvasses and just have to paint the heads in. Two variations would work for most; one in a blue suit with a flag for polititians and one in a grey suit with bookcases for executives and lawyers.

Maybe we can convince our male clients to try something new in the way of costuming. Wearing a corset ourselves during the initial meeting may go a long way in convincing them. If they decide later after a consultation like that they should go elsewhere for their portrait, I say they have no imagination, on to the next!

Oh to do male portraits like the Reynolds!

Kimberly Dow · 09-20-2004, 02:58 PM

I appreciate those snazzy pants in Reynolds painting, but does anyone else feel unnerved by the direction of that canon?

Michele Rushworth · 09-20-2004, 09:28 PM

You guys....! This thread has given me my full dose of laughs for the day. (Much needed after 10 hours at the easel!)

Actually right now I'm painting a portrait of a man with very muscular thighs in tight white pants. You'll have to wait a couple of weeks to find out more....

Chris Saper · 09-20-2004, 09:46 PM

Sharon,
Those corsets are gorgeous! Personally I like the ivory and black.

Linda,
Nice sketch.

Michele,

Quote:

You'll have to wait a couple of weeks to find out more...

Perhaps you have overlooked the "Works in Progress" section?

Sharon Knettell · 09-21-2004, 07:43 AM

Michele,

If you are painting the gentleman at any time from life, I would suggest using the hands on approach for measurements to insure accuracy.

Chris,

I had that same corset made (unfortunately not for me) in pale celadon green. Delicious!

Actually girls, I WAS thinking of having one made for me for special occasions. After all Jane Fonda wore one even when she was over 60. Everybody wore them at the turn of the century, even the old croakers. After pricing Prada et. al a custom made corset is a bargain. It would fit better than something off the rack and you could have a skirt made to match at the fraction of the cost of designer duds. Have you seen the runway fashions for the last few years, corsets, corsets, corsets!