Sunday, August 7, 2011

Finished Pastel Portrait of Nick


This is where I ended up with the pastel of Nick.
I played with the background and ended up spraying tons of fix, 
just a few inches from the surface.  I got some great darks, drips and textures that is hard to see in this image but interesting in person.
18x22 inches
This painting will be on view at the Butler Institute of American Art in Youngstown, Ohio 
from October 9 thru Nov 27, 2011 as part of the Pittsburgh Pastel Artists League show.


11 comments:

Sadami said...

Hi,Maria,
Congrats!! Wonderful work. Your son will be so proud of this work and mom's love.
Cheers,Sadami

Autumn Leaves said...

A gorgeous final product, Maria! Is he in the driveway?

Maria Kovalenko Leysens said...

thanks... no he is not in the driveway... I got many comments about the leaves in the background. In the actual photo he was standing against gray house siding... I just made up the background... Glad that it got a reaction.

wandamarie said...

I love how he "pops" against the deep green shrubbery you added. This is stunning! I also admire how you took the "fix and tooth" problem in hand and just went with it. There's no use fighting it at some point, is there? You fought with it, and you definitely WON!

Mail Art Dramas said...

I like the pose. I think it captures his age. There is that mix of not sure, but going somewhere they think is right and not sure an adult opinion is needed.
okay so I have had three cups of coffee and brain is working overtime. more likely he is standing around waiting for something and has no idea you have a camera.
the background is great..unexpected.

Damião Vieira said...

A great final work Maria, managing to take advantage of the background to highlight the figure, which is very dear to you.
Congratulations

Rosemary said...

A fabulous piece Maria! Congratulations!

Diane Hoeptner said...

Wonderful textures, I bet it's stunning in life.

Debi Fitzgerald said...

HI! I found your blog thru a linkedin post... I'm enjoying your work! I esp. like this one of your son and your comments on the Wallis paper... I had the same problem with tooth on the museum paper. I really liked the Wallis Prof. grade much better. And I love the "Belgium Mist" color. I have been on a journey to try different papers. My next pastel is going to be on Clairefontaine Pastelmat Card. Have you ever worked on it? The surface is very interesting and I have seen some beautiful work done on it... with claims that fix was not needed...

Sadeu said...

magnificent portraits, Maria : )

David Larson Evans said...

There is something special about this one ...love it.