This is the last post for 2013. The photo shows a bit of reflection on the left side of her hair which is not there in life.
This portrait was started in class and then finished in my studio from a photo. Sian is the second human head that I have painted. She has had two rounds of glazes, one by me and one by Edward Povey. I learned from him that I should be more aggressive in my glazing. Sian's portrait is part of my ongoing learning and practice creating form with warm and cool colors. Good bye Sian and sleep peacefully.
We make art for lots of reasons. Some of us are driven to a paint from our passions. With passion we seek beauty, an accomplishment, or an idea of something new that we are sure we cannot achieve. Some of us are driven to paint for money. Sometimes this is a necessity or it might be a form of validation or ego. Some of us are driven to paint for love. We want to express our love through painting or give our love to someone that way. Or it might be self love because we simply love to express our selves in paint.
My mother-in-law, Martha W, Murray, made this painting on the left in 1934 when she was a student at TCU. The Perdue family treasures it. Unfortunately this little painting has not fared well through time. My sister-in-law asked me to make a copy for her before it dissolved. In this case I suppose we have to say this painting was motivated by different kinds of love and by the love of several people for various people.
A toast to you Martha as we end 2013, nearly 80 years after you signed your painting. I hope this makes you smile in heaven.
This is not a painting just an exercise using color temperatures to create the illusion of solid forms. Look at what can be done with a piece of folded paper and a Styrofoam ball!
