I wanted to paint a woman with downcast eyes and in the sketch phase (
click here if you want to take a look) I thought that was impossible. The eyes looked closed.
But then I got a great suggestion in my Fabulous Faces class (willowing.ning.com) of some paintings to take a look at and after many hours of just working on the eyes -- success!!!
She does look like she is carrying the weight of the world on her shoulders, like she knows true sorrow. Which is why I named her Dolores.
But somehow she also carries a quiet dignity and strength, as though she knows even though her heart is heavy right now, she is quite
capable of dealing with just about anything.
I had fun using a rubber stamp to lift off paint while it was still wet (the lighter areas in the background) and also add darker paint. It's something I hadn't tried before but I am sure will do again!
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Dolores
6x 6 inch acrylic painting
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I am entering her in the weekly
Illustration Friday exhibit (the theme is
capable) and also am linking this post to the wonderful and very fun
Paint Party Friday.
In the next few days, I have much more to share with you, a new print, more art, and some exciting and art-related news...
P.S. Thank you all for the wonderful comments on this piece!! I cherish every one of them...
Love it. I love her collar too!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Catherine! I love her dress - sort of old-fashioned, isn't it? she almost looks italian to me - although I'm not sure exactly why...
DeleteSorrow - you captured it superbly!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Eva! I never quite know what emotion these women will convey. But she definitely looked sad...
DeleteOh Silke! I love this one!! you did a great job with her eyes!! Wow!!
ReplyDeleteCan't wait to hear your news!!
xo
Thanks, Cathy! She was such a challenge, but I was determined! There were phases when her eyes didn't look at all well... or good! Hugs, Silke
DeleteHi Silke..WOW..she is peaceful and divine..so deeply beautiful and I love what you wrote..heart-touching..her eyes are gorgoeus and compelling..i love the beautiful shading in her complexion.. face and cheekbones ..wow!!
ReplyDeleteEven in her sorrow there is such a vibrancy in her spirit! Beautiful grey-blue backdrop..i feel a strong connection with this piece and see part of my journey in this!! Hugs..this is awesome!!
victoria
Thank you so much, Victoria!! I loved painting her - I think there is a part of her in all of us... And once the eyes were "right", everything else just flowed. Hugs, Silke
DeleteShe has such emotion to her and you're right- she has such a strength too! Wow!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Carolyn!! xo
DeleteSie ist wunderschön ♥
ReplyDeleteLG Sabine
Vielen Dank, Sabine!! LG Silke
DeleteYes, strength. She is stunning!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Daniele! :)
DeleteYour painting looks wonderful. She does look capable, but weighed down. Great job. Never thought of using a stamp to lift off painting. Sounds like fun and it looks like it gave you a lovely effect.
ReplyDeleteHappy PPF!
Thanks, Anne. I thought the background needed something and I wasn't sure what. So, I played with the stamp and (after a few failed attempts) it worked out beautifully... xo
DeleteShe looks like I feel right now. Good job and happy PPF
ReplyDeleteMimi Torchia Boothby Watercolors
Hope you are feeling much better today, Mimi!! xo
DeleteBeautifully painted. You really captured this emotion.
ReplyDelete♥♥♥
Happy PPF!!
Mary
Mixed-Media Map Art
It's more like this emotion captured the painting. I never quite know the emotion of a piece until it's finished. Happy PPF, Mary!! xo
DeleteTo me, it looks as if she is saying to herself,"This is tough, but I can take it...I can endure this."
ReplyDeleteSee what an artist you are!
Thank you so much, Kay!! I wasn't intending to paint her sad - but in the end, that's what she conveys, isn't it? xoxo
DeleteShe's very beautiful. I love her expressive eyes and the lovely, soft colors you used.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much, Debbie! She is quite different from most of my other paintings... xo Silke
DeleteShe is really wonderful--so expressive!!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much, Janet! xoxo
Delete~the weight of the world...you captured such beautifully...when i was reading about her eyes...i kept thinking "sorrow" IS what i see when looking at her...i think this is a masterpiece! much love light and blessings~
ReplyDeleteThank you so much Brandi! I knew I wanted downcast eyes, but I did not know she was going to look so sad. I thought she'd just be looking at something below her. I love when my paintings take on a life of their own... Hugs, Silke
DeleteVery, very nice! Success, indeed. To me, she looks French. (But is that just because I am reading Peter Mayle at the moment? ☺)
ReplyDeleteThat's funny, Beth, because I keep thinking she looks Italian to me - right down to the blouse with that collar. Peter Mayle - what fun! Enjoy!! Hugs, Silke
DeleteKay G said exactly what I was thinking. I think you have succeeded with the eyes. I had a feeling you might give up and have them closed but they are just right. I've never thought of using rubber stanmps to play with backgrounds. Food for thouight there.
ReplyDeleteI want to win the lottery - not for flash cars or anything like that, just so that I could have the space to lay my hobbies out and work on them when I pleased. It's one hobby at a trime at the moment and the paints are in the loft. You have made me itch to get them out but I have to be conscious of not taking too much of other people's house-space.
Ha! I was lucky in that we had two guests rooms in the house (since we don't have children, every extra room is either a studio or a guest room). So, I took one of them and made it into a little studio. That way I can leave my stuff out. Knitting and such I do in the living room and sometimes I set up my sewing machine in the second guest room. I could easily take over the entire house... ;-) Silke
DeleteShe's wonderful. It is a real encouragement to me to see your work. I'm also a new artist, also only discovered my creativity in the past three years.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Tracy! Just keep working - that's all I did. Being a new artist is wonderful, isn't it? There's such a different appreciation for a talent that was hidden for so long... I'll have to visit your blog and see what you've been up to!! Hugs, Silke
DeleteShe is beautiful,
ReplyDeleteand what wonderful background!
Vielen Dank, Rein! Yes, I loved how the background turned out - that was a surprise!! xo Silke
DeleteLiebe Silke,
ReplyDeleteich schließe mich den positiven Kommentaren an.
Alles Liebe
Elisabeth
Liebe Elisabeth,
Deletevielen Dank und viele liebe Greusse aus Savannah!!
Alles Liebe, Silke
Silke, schon wieder ein so tolles Bild! Sie sieht sehr traurig und nachdenklich aus.Gefällt mir.
ReplyDeleteDanke, Caro! Das mit dem traurigen und nachdenklichen Ausdruck war nicht geplant. Seltsam, wie das manchmal wie von alleine passiert... Alles Liebe, Silke
DeleteThat feeling of sadness... the girl seems unlikely, good work. Saludos
ReplyDeleteThank you so much!! :) xoxo
DeleteBeautiful painting, the emotion pours through this work of art. Happy PPF, Annett x
ReplyDeleteI love to going back to this site to learn from more artists..cool stuffs dude!
ReplyDeleteSilke, She's absolutely amazing! Very well done. It totally moved me inside/out. Happy PPF!
ReplyDeleteVery very nice, Silke. Very dramatic look to her. And I love the techniques you used!
ReplyDeleteSilke, this portrait is stunning. There is nothin I don't like about it and the composition, colour and feel to it evokes melancholy, truly a great piece .
ReplyDeleteI like this a lot. I have a thing for painting women with downcast eyes. People usually think they are sad, but who knows? Maybe she is reading a very absorbing book, or working on a complicated piece of needlework.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful and expressive. She seems real, like s/one I know.
ReplyDeleteYou captured the downcast eyes. It's a wonderful painting. Happy PPF a bit late. Helen @ Natures Walk
ReplyDeleteHi silke. Welcome to the gang. You'll love PPF. It's a beautiful piece and lover her downcast eyes. Sorry I'm late but have been out of town. Nice going. Happy PPF.
ReplyDelete