Young Harpist - Page 3

Jean Kelly · 02-15-2006, 01:39 AM

Hi Alex, that mixing of senses your were talking about is called "synesthesia". Michele Rushworth and I have it, colors become sounds or physical sensations, music becomes a symphony of color. There are all kinds of variations. My sense of smell drives me nuts sometimes, especially when it comes to body wash! Some smell "crunchy or prickly", some are hard like chopped ice, but some are velvet.

Your painting definitely has all the rich overtones and undertones of a synesthetic experience!

Jean

Alexandra Tyng · 02-15-2006, 10:06 AM

That was the word I was trying to think of--like anesthesia but with a different prefix. I've done that, too, as long as I can remember. When I was a little kid, the days of the week all had colors, music (I especially remember Waltz of the Flowers and the Firebird Suite) evoked entire scenes with vivid colors. In fact the original theme or intent of the piece couldn't have mattered less. I even remember an argument I had with a friend in elementary school about what color each day was! I couldn't believe someone could see it differently.

I wonder if most artists experience things this way? Anyone else have synethesia out there?

Thanks, Jean.

Patricia Joyce · 02-15-2006, 10:23 AM

Alexandra,
WOW!!! This is really beautiful. The face, the hands, the feet are obviously beautifully rendered as all have commented. I'd like to even comment on how beautiful the harp is, how lovely it sits in space. The magnificence of the harp, against the rich background and the beauty of the portrait - all harmonize beautifully! Congratulations.

Alexandra Tyng · 02-15-2006, 10:33 AM

I never heard of the Bead Game. What is it? But I do love they way Degas experiences--and makes the viewer experience--color. It's incredible.

Pat, thank you! Painting the harp was quite an experience and it made me pretty nervous, worrying about getting the right number of strings, getting the strings to line up with the pins, and the pins in the right place on the curve, etc. Makes me want to try it again.

Michele Rushworth · 02-15-2006, 11:02 AM

Gorgeous painting! It must be stunning to see in its full size, real life glory. As someone else said, it's irridescent. I see you use a lot of pink. Is that Old Holland Brilliant Pink I see in there, by any chance?

I love color too, it's the whole reason I paint. Though you'd never know it from my largely tonalist paintings. I struggle to keep the chroma strong but I never succeed to this degree.

And speaking of color, Monday is yellow, Tuesday is a kind of steel blue, Thursday is reddish brown and Saturday is always black!

Alexandra Tyng · 02-15-2006, 11:15 AM

Ladies, I'm having trouble getting off the forum this morning! Already there's a book I have to read, and I can already see a discussion forming about the colors of the days of the week. (I always saw Sunday=yellow, Monday=white, Tuesday=blue, Wednesday=chartreuse, Thursday=brown, Friday=black, and Saturday=red.)

Yeah, I love those 19th century painters and the Japanese influence. That was my concentration in college--19th and 20th century art.

As for the pink in the dress, I have never tried O.H. brilliant pink. Is it a light color out of the tube? I usually use saturated colors so I can make them as light or dark as I want. I think I used mostly W&N permanent rose and Gamblin perylene red. Next time I'm in the art store I'm going to peek into an OH tube.

Michele Rushworth · 02-15-2006, 12:27 PM

No, no, no.... Sunday is white, of course. However, Old Holland Brilliant Pink IS really Pink. Glad that's settled.

It's a very saturated, very bright pink. Hot pink, I guess you'd say. It was recommended by Tony Ryder and I've been using it on my palette for the last two or three years.

Julie Deane · 02-15-2006, 12:31 PM

Beautiful piece, Alexandra! I love the loose feel with the colors.

Synesthesia - my stepmom's family has two members who have this - both artists - they learned young not to talk about it, because people thought they were crazy.

Alexandra Tyng · 02-15-2006, 07:56 PM

Hi Julie, thanks so much for your kind words. It's always nice to see your name and avatar pop up. I guess synethesia must be wired into artists' brains. Frankly it's hard to imagine not having it.

Michele, what do you usually use the pink for--clothing? Skin? And how does Tony use it?

Rob Sullivan · 02-16-2006, 10:30 AM

I've ben itching to see this in Unveilings, and here it is!

Wow. Just wow, Alexandra. I, too was following the WIP, and your process through to the final has been a great service to all; I know I learned from it! Thanks for letting me make a (very) small contribution there.

And since Michele mentioned this - besides a pink dress, what would one use OH Brilliant Pink for? Sounds like one of those "scary colors" (think pthalo).