Tuesday, March 25, 2014

Modern day nobility

 
 Alessandro (art group sketch)
Acrylic on canvas
16 x 20
Barbara Muir © 2014
With just over an hour to capture a likeness,
I was delighted when I walked into my art
group tonight to see this model.  Dressed
in a sweatshirt and wool hat (a toque in Canada),
pulled down over long hair curling around
his shoulders, he had the air of a Renaissance,
Florentine prince.

How wonderful!  I started painting making an
outline in white (just for a change) and although
I could work on it a bit more now, I am happy with
how quickly it came together.

As it turned out Alessandro has trained in media
studies, and so he will end up being modern
day nobility -- the people who know how to
make the images we so desire in our everyday,
techie world.  On top of that Alessandro was
a wonderful person, with a warm personality,
and everyone in the art group enjoyed talking
to him.

Have an enjoying-who-you're-painting day.

6 comments:

Unknown said...

Hi Barbara, Allesandro is looking good, and so is the beautiful water series painting you are working on! Love the blitz/bliss idea...a little bit like a reward system:)

Catherine Jeffrey said...

I enjoy doing what I call "gestural Paintings" trying to capture an image in a short time. It's good to do on so many levels. Your painting was a success in capturing the essence of your model.
I also like your blitz bliss idea.It is so balanced. I sure wish I could work that way. But as I often complain, I seem to be able to do blitz in long exhausting bursts and bliss when I finally let down and feel like a slug with a lack of motivation.

Barbara Muir said...

Hi Sally,

Thank you so much. He was a beautiful young man, and I wish I had time to do more on that, but it was just for fun. Yes Blitz/Bliss was inspired. This week has been mostly Blitz. ;-) More bliss please!

XOXOXOXOXO Barbara

Barbara Muir said...

Hi Catherine,

Thanks so much. I love painting with my group, the talk and socializing in between poses is wonderful. Plus I just love seeing what people do. It is a good exercise trying to "get" something in a short time. This fellow gave a lot of mood in his pose.

Love your work.

XOXOXOXO Barbara

Tammy Hext said...

I think you captured Allesandro beautifully. Time restraints force you to make decisions quickly and love the outcome on this one - very successful.
T

Barbara Muir said...

Hi Tammy,

Thank you so much. It's true. And I love working from a model, especially when the model is a super person.

XOXOXOXO Barbara

Portrait Artist

My photo
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
I paint and draw on commission and for shows. To commission a portrait, or purchase one of my paintings please contact me at: barbara.muir@sympatico.ca
A major highlight in my career? Drawing Oprah Winfrey live via Skype for her show "Where in the Skype are you? Galleries: Studio Vogue Gallery, Toronto, Canada. The Amsterdam Whitney Gallery, New York City. Gallery at the Porch Door, Kingston, Canada. Your positive comments on this blog mean the world to me. I'd love to hear from you!