Dappled Light

Dappled Light

First of all thanks so much my friends for the kind thoughts, made my hubby smile, he has a couple of rough weeks ahead so your encouragement and thoughts are really appreciated by both of us.

Dappled Light is my latest mixed media piece, primarily acrylic with some pastel accents over it.   I love the palette colors of ultramarine blue, teal and sap green.   I decided to put the background in hoping it looked a bit like the garden leaves.  I had originally planned to do flowers in her hair, but decided I didn't like it so quickly wiped it off.   Thanks to Alex Lee Johnson at PMP for another fabulous shot.

I heard an interesting thought on portraits - that basically it is a problem somewhere between the eyes and the mouth.  That you really don't need to obsess on the nose and mouth but just "nail" one of the eyes.   Humans, when we look at each other, actually only see one eye, that is what we tend to focus on.  The other thing is when we look at pictures of ourselves, self portraits, FaceTime etc, we don't think it looks like us.  That is because it isn't how we see ourselves in the mirror, so it looks wrong.  Also one of the ways people can tell if a self portrait is done by using a mirror (live) or using a photo is the intensity of the gaze.   If working from life the gaze gets captured as you really study the image in the mirror.  I have never attempted a self portrait, maybe I will try.   But rest pretty assured, you will never probably see it.

Thanks much for taking a look and have a super day.

Comments

Helen said…
Your painting is great. It's a beautiful reference photo, but your painting is so much more beautiful.
November 1, 2018 at 10:09 PM
Sheila said…
I like your background Nelvia, lets her stand out front and center, LOL. Some of my favorite colors as well. I love how you simplified, and made her shirt, and the background melt together. I thought her hand looked large, but in the photo it is as well. Just the pose I guess. If there is one thing you shine at, (there are many), it is painting the eyes. This is further proof of your expertise.
Prayers for quick healing sent your direction :)
November 2, 2018 at 12:21 AM
carol edan said…
Agree with Sheila, great background. Feel as if she is emerging. Wishing you all the best!
November 2, 2018 at 2:55 AM
Mellowood Gallery said…
Super painting Nelvia. I like the melding of the background and her dress and the colour is a perfect contrast to the hair. Great job! Had to chuckle about you not showing a self portrait if you do one. Good luck on the health issues.
November 2, 2018 at 11:07 AM
Nelvia said…
Thank you Helen, that is my end goal, find a likenesses but make it a painting not just a static photo duplication. Thinking of you today, think you said Friday for your show
November 2, 2018 at 12:14 PM
Nelvia said…
I think you are right in the hand because of the angle and camera. I just love doing eyes and adding unexpected colors. The greens and blues worked well for this since they are natural eyes colors. I also loved her hair against those colors. I guess I am just happy with the overall result Of this one
November 2, 2018 at 12:17 PM
Nelvia said…
I am really liking these free wheeling backgrounds and love too how they can bleed into the skin tones. Think I am going to work on the emerging theme for a series of both humans and animals
November 2, 2018 at 12:18 PM
Nelvia said…
Thanks Val, I am happy how this works out, less really can be more. I am not much for cameras, videos or even face to face any more - too old, fat and glad to be invisible I guess. Thanks, nothing life threatening hopefully, but still ordeals and some tense moments for a while. We were hoping for positive results on one thing, it doesn’t look like it will materialize, so we are going forward best we can.
November 2, 2018 at 12:24 PM
Joan Tavolott said…
This is really nice. I like it better than the original picture. It has a brightness and a harmony that is really nice. Will be saying my prayers that things go well for your hubby. Medical issues are so nerve wracking even when they aren't really serious. Testing alone is so invasive and causes such tension. Hopefully it will work out well and quickly.
November 2, 2018 at 9:25 PM
hmuxo said…
This is SO good Nelvia!!! LOVE it!!! The colors in yours is so much better than the reference photo!!!! ❤️
November 3, 2018 at 8:04 AM
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