Sunday, August 31, 2014

Too Pretty to Paint?


The Perfection Challenge
Ah the caramel skin, perfect and luminous to go with a beautiful face .Why is it so hard to capture a likeness?

In our art group we have a variety of models – from young to old and from thick to thin --we wouldn’t have it any other way. So when we had the opportunity to paint a beautiful young lady from France we welcomed it. My art group consists of a variety of artists and mediums. I love oil paint but our materials are vast from Acrylics to Conte to Pen and Ink with Watercolor.

What I have noticed though, is that my experienced art group struggles when painting young beautiful models. Why is it easier to paint imperfect than the beautifully perfect? With beautiful models it is difficult to get a likeness. I don’t have an answer as to why. Is it because the measurements need to be more exact or that we all strive to capture that perfection? I have at least 3 failed paintings from when models were young and beautiful, paintings which I stopped painting due to frustration in not capturing a likeness. Conversely some of my favorite paintings are those which capture the heavy, or the wrinkled…This painting of perfection is the closest I have come to capturing the lovely French model.


I have to admit that I like this painting but knowing the model, I know I’m still missing a little something. 
12x16, oil

No comments:

Post a Comment

I would love to see your comments here, thank you!