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gwendolyngrey
So I finished the first painting for my show this Sun night! It's of the Maiden and the Prince (ie. Lynette and Mike) and is derived from images from the photoshoot in Jan. I had critique yesterday, and true to form, I finished the piece the night before it was due. Honestly, I'm not sure I ever get anything done more than a day before it's due. The thing is, I generally know how long something will take to accomplish, and unless I have a rock-solid deadline nipping at my heels, I tend to put things off until they won't be put off any longer.
But back to the point.
I still have three paintings to go, but I'm quite happy with how this one turned out and how it was received during critique. Yes, there are things that could be improved, and I'm not at all sure whether I like the black background or not, but on the whole I'm pleased.
It was actually extraordinarily satisfying showing the painting to Katie and Mike (separately). I had it in the truck of my car, and when I opened it and Katie glanced in, she sort of gasped and said "ohdeargod" (or something similar... my memory is like a sieve) and then when I pulled it out she just stared and mumbled about how it did look like Mike and how un-nerving it was. Apparently, seeing one of our best friends in the back of my car (in effigy) was rather strange. Mike, on the other hand, was INCREDIBLY pleased with it! He oo-ed and ah-ed properly, but what really made me happy was the big grin he got whenever he looked at it. This is the second time I've painted him, and this painting is ever so much better than the old one from over a year ago... and I know he thought so too. Perhaps the most ringing endorsment is that it is now his profile picture on facebook. :-)
I always think it's funny to contrast the the difference of reactions from 'artists' and 'non-artists' to paintings. My Mom likes Lynette's expression, Mike likes how much he looks like him. On the other hand: my illustration prof, Ed, LOVED the prince's collar, my favorite bit is the shiny gold trim on the prince's shoulder, and Gil raved about one of the studs on the prince's sleeve...
