Posthumous commission

Julie Deane · 11-08-2004, 08:10 PM

Hi Patricia -

Congratulations on your new project! Nice face, well-lit, with lovely features.

Not much in the way of nuns, but here are a few links to people wearing severe black and white clothing:

http://www.abcgallery.com/V/velazquez/velazquez10.html

http://www.abcgallery.com/R/rembrandt/rembrandt6.html

http://www.abcgallery.com/R/repin/repin24.html

Mike McCarty · 11-08-2004, 08:30 PM

Here is Herman Doomer by Rembrandt.

Sharon Knettell · 11-09-2004, 09:13 AM

There is an absolutely exquisite picture of a nun by Nicholas de Largilliere, "Elizabeth Throckmorton" at the National Gallery of Art in Washinton D.C.

It is one of my all times favorite painting. I was lucky enough to see it in person last year on a visit to the Capital.

Mike McCarty · 11-09-2004, 10:18 AM

If I were asked to do this I'd do it in gray scale oil paint on canvas.

Patricia Joyce · 11-09-2004, 11:28 AM

Thanks for the references, Julie, Mike and Sharon.

After viewing Rembrandt's Mother I felt relieved to have the image I have to work with- yikes!!

I am definitely going to give this a shot in oils since I have until the end of March to complete. I was thinking of a monochromatic painting but making the black a chromatic black rather than black, black??

And then I saw the Elizabeth Throckmorton by Nicholas deLaigilliere - Wow, Sharon, it must be georgious to view in person. I found some great images on the web, posting one of the closeups below for everyone else to enjoy.

I'm feeling inspired!!

Mike McCarty · 11-09-2004, 11:44 AM

Nothing beats oil paint. I did one of these a year or so ago and really enjoyed it. It went so quickly, only values to worry about, not all the complication of color. I had it hung in my retail space for a while and it had much more of an visual impact than I thought it would. Black, white and linseed oil, that was all I used (linseed oil is all I ever use). And, it certainly gives more of a sense of prominence than graphite, in my opinion.

I would recommend this to anyone thinking about making the move to oil paints.

Patricia Joyce · 11-09-2004, 11:51 AM

Mike,
What black did you use?? And what white??