Thursday, April 24, 2008

Lost It

It's been over a year now since my Mom died, and I thought I would go back to work on the portrait of her as a young girl that I started before I knew she was so sick. I am happy with the skin tones, and the way the background is taking shape, but I have lost the likeness. It's still a cute picture of a girl and a kitten, but it isn't Mom anymore.

Thank goodness for digital cameras! These instant pictures really help me see where I go wrong. Anyway, since this photo was taken, I have painted out the eyes, which have somehow grown apart (!) and will wait for the paint to dry a bit before I try again.



Have I mentioned how much I adore the smell of oil paint, LOL?

I have been frantically sewing on a dress for Lydia, but I bit off WAY more than I can chew. The pattern is much more complicated than I anticipated. The technical aspects I can handle -- it only takes a little patience -- but the fitting is driving me insane. I do believe we may go dress shopping this weekend after all. The very idea fills me with so much relief... I don't remember dressmaking EVER being this stressful before.

In the meantime, I finally thought of an idea to use the beautiful gingko leaves my wonderful sister-in-law sent me. This is just the beginning...



They are such gorgeous things!

3 comments:

Judi W. said...

I hope you get the photo back to where you want it - it will be a wonderful reminder of your Mom.

I hear you about dresses - one daughter wanted a really complicated dress that I knew was beyond my abilities - so we just shopped for something similar. Sorry to that after you put so much work into it though. But it will be worth the stress release!

Can't wait to see where you go with the leaves. Love their shape!

Shashi Nayagam said...

As Judi says I hope you will get it done the way you want it to be. But so far even if you may have gone a bit away from the actual image it is beautiful.
Love those leaves what beautiful shapes and I can't wait to see what you do with them

MaryO said...

I can relate to your love for oil paint! I used to love the way my car smelled when I was painting in oils. Just carrying them back and forth to school left such an intoxicating fragrance!
Don't worry, I'm sure you can fix the painting....that's another thing I loved about oils...they were forgiving!
The gingkos are going to make a wonderful composition...hurry and finish that one!