(no subject)

[gwendolyngrey]

Last night as I was researching Mary Beale (and incidentally staying up way too late falling in love with the late 17th century... it's dangerous stuff!) I started thinking about her as a portraitist and about how much fun it would be to actually 'get in character'  by doing several 17th century style portraits and drawings.  Then something happened.  For the first time in months and months, I actually really wanted to paint.  I want to wear my scruffy old apron and slap gesso around and be surrounded by the odor of oil paint and liquin.  There's a sort of magical calm in painting, where the rest of the world doesn't matter... all I need to worry about is if the colors are good or the mouth is the right size/shape or oh-crap-I-have-to-draw-the-hands-now. 

One thing I've always wanted to do is to paint while in costume; most specifically, in the costume of someone who actually was an artist and would have worked in those clothes.   This is going to be fun.  :-)

And I'm incredibly thankful that my love for art (and being an artist) has returned before the next semester starts.  In less than two weeks I'm going to be back at school, spending time at Calder surrounded by (and creating) art.  Two days ago I was dreading going back to school.  Today I don't think I mind at all.

Comments

[quincy134.livejournal.com]

Wow, the idea of painting while portraying a historical painter is indeed really cool! I'm imagining you painting other costumers dressed in 17th century outfits.

[laurenmonkey.livejournal.com]

That's wonderful! Hurrah for new inspiration and combining it with our passions.

[myladyswardrobe.livejournal.com]

We've had two people painting in character at Kentwell. The latest one painted me last year and we have the portait hanging in the music room under one of the lights. Looks lovely. The other portait is also of me but it hasn't been finished yet.

We also have limners at Kentwell.

Its very interesting for non-costumed people seeing how people did that sort of thing in the past.

[ktlovely.livejournal.com]

Has Andrew sent out his emails yet? He's supposed to do/have done so today-ish. You should ask about painting at Fort SJ in October.

Of course, by then school will have already started and you may or may not feel like it.

[idlewild-grey.livejournal.com]

I wouldn't know. Excite is "down for scheduled maintenance" at the moment. Lame.

And HARSH, Katie, so harsh! (but... I suppose, not unfounded in truth). Honestly, I had thought about it, but considering the whole '9 out of 10 people would be poor-ish' ratio that you so emphatically impressed upon me, I doubt anyone in our group would have been able to afford having a portrait painted of themselves. Artists went where the money was. I wouldn't be very "documentable".

[ktlovely.livejournal.com]

Very lame. Gmail is better. Honestly; I've used yahoo, hotmail, and Comcast, too, and Gmail is my favorite. It's got the best spam filter, too.

Also, M&J trimming is having a 20% off everything anniversary sale that ends 12 a.m. Friday the 15th, so if you want to order anything, it might be a good time.

That's why I said ask Andrew. I've delegated that sort of thing to him because I'm supposed to make a 1911 dress, a justacorps, and an outfit for my sister between now and FSJ. He's the one that does research around here anyway. However, I argued it out in my head and it might be justifiable--as much as us sleeping in tents, etc--example:

Charles Langlade was rich enough to send his daughters to Montreal for schooling. Being "accomplished," one would assume, would be part of that schooling. That may or may not have included drawing/painting/art of some sort. I don't know that part off the top of my head. But anyway, it's a conceivable skill set. And if not full-blown oil painting, why not some other form of making art (as opposed to handcrafts, 'cos we all know you can sew already.)

Like I said; ask the Southwell. You could just call him (shush, I know; you don't do that, but you could)at 989-965-2883. He's nice.

[elven-minority.livejournal.com]

That sounds like a lot of fun!

It also sounds a little like what I wrote my college application essay on. I wrote about getting in touch with history through wearing period clothing. That's how cool I am. = )