Wallpaper

Did I say that I was really excited to work on a background which incorporated wallpaper or tapestry? That was insane.

Painting group convened on Wednesday finally after many cancellations. Nicole worked on putting a new wood surface on a stretcher, and Dallas taught the first class of the new painting session in the adjacent room. I felt we didn't really have momentum, although I managed to get a start on a wallpaper background. The background came from a tapestry I had that I used in my last photo shoot with the girls last winter. The tapestry is very busy and vibrant, so I simplified the image as much as possible.

I had the initial drawing laid in of the three figures and had done some work with the portrait on the seated figure of Erica. I felt I wanted or needed to start laying in the background just to see how it would look. I'm sure there are better ways of doing this, however, I took a picture of the tapestry, and used tracing paper to copy the image or a likeness of it. I then used black pastel on the back side of the tracing paper, and re-copied this image on the canvas. I chose the smaller of two images I had and getting them all laid out on yet again another separate grid was work for my brain.

Even so, there was such monotony to this type of work that was maddening and addictive at the same time. I started painting a violet-red large flower in the pattern that stood out. My plan was to consistently work on this pattern bit by bit as I worked on the rest of the piece (i.e. the figures) as working the entire painting up at the same time is important. The background also is just as integral as your points of interest and can make or break a piece.

Nicole liked the piece right off saying that the pyramid composition was expected but worked. I gave a slight twist of the mouth to this. Dallas gave me the 'very interesting' comment in a fake Chinese accent which means that he is 'doing' Victor Wang saying the painting is very interesting. That was his only comment, however, I know this really means he is jealous and would never give me a real compliment. We do this to each other, and usually throw in some backhanded compliment to each others work anyway.

The two proceeded to question the accuracy of the seated figure concerned that the head and torso were too small for the legs. I gave them the photograph for reference knowing that a photograph can be distorted and that you cannot use this solely for reference. After measuring and comparing the actual piece to the photo they determined after much contemplation that everything was accurate according to the grid. I worked on my wallpaper diligently painting my pattern, but noted that I questioned the ratio of the upper body to the lower body as well. The thought is still in the back of my mind that this may be a little off. I will have to let the figures sit with me a while longer, and perhaps modify the lower extremities a bit- going more on the leaner side with them for the rest of the painting.

Dallas did note that the portrait of Madelaine reminded him of that guy from Los Lobos, whoever that is. And, then I thought she looked a bit like Jimmy Smits. These black and white under- paintings are just initial renderings made for composition that are not solidified at all yet- right now I'm trying to decide to paint more detail in the forms in black and white, or to go ahead with flesh tones.