Light and Motion

IMG_2070, originally uploaded by aunt.meeb.

Again, I'm getting more and more obsessed with a focused face (or foot), and the surrounding scene more blurry. One of my favorite portraits of Sargent's (Lady Agnew of Lochnaw) had this same feel to it, with her facial features immaculately captured, and the rest of the painting a little more loose. Below is another shot that I think captures the effect I'm attempting. Notice how dark her eyes and mouth are, compared to the background. I would assume that if she were still, the shadows under the railing, her hair and the woods behind would be much darker and therefore compete with her features.

IMG_1532, originally uploaded by aunt.meeb.

Animal Studies

IMG_1593, originally uploaded by aunt.meeb.

Just a few studies of some beloved pets. Whitley, above, and Artemis and Flower are below.

IMG_1585, originally uploaded by aunt.meeb.

IMG_1582, originally uploaded by aunt.meeb.

Summer: Take 2

IMG_1577, originally uploaded by aunt.meeb.

Nothing says summer like daisies in your hair, a pretty white cotton dress, and green, green grass. Although there is not a lot of contrast in her face, I think this would work really well as an oil on canvas. These are the types of pictures that make portraiture easy: good color, simple composition, and (for me) high contrast between background and foreground. Some portrait artists insist on lighter backgrounds, but I like the depth of the dark backgrounds, as they tend not to compete with lighter skin tones.

Summer: Take 1

IMG_1562, originally uploaded by aunt.meeb.

I've been trying to capture the kids outside this summer. I especially like this image of William reading in the grass. I'm trying to use things like the horizon intentionally when setting up a composition. I prefer non-traditional positioning of the person off to one side. I have been watching and re-watching Wes Anderson flicks for their cinematography; I am overwhelmingly drawn to his compositions and dramatic color choices. I literally am astounded every time I watch "The Life Aquatic" or "The Darjeeling Limited." Each time I see something new, and I hope to integrate these layers of interest in my future attempts.

Whitley

IMG_0975, originally uploaded by aunt.meeb.

Well, since I gave some space to a pup, I figured I should be PC and throw this out for all the cat lovers.

This kitty belongs to my sister, her husband and their seven kiddos. The cat has not aged in ten years. I swear. He works together with the family dog to trap chipmunks, and we will often find a tail or some entrails near the front door. Ugh.

Sweet cat, though.

Emily in Graphite

IMG_0962, originally uploaded by aunt.meeb.

You can see the Pompeiian influence in this composition. I like teeny, tiny pictures with a wide border. I tried this one from a picture I took of my niece, Emily, on a ferris wheel. I was happy with how her facial features turned out, but I was kicking myself for using a charcoal pencil to blacken the background. It ended up making the graphite look lighter and even more shiny. Any recommendations?

Close up: