Portrait of Tove - FINISHED! (I guess...)

[Matt Sammekull]

So this is it; I changed the color of her dress and made some other small alternations. Many thanks to especially mr Bruin70 for giving me such great guidance. Also I want to thank Markr.

I though about a title for this one.. and maybe "Stood up" could fit her. Any ideas??

Tove,
Oil on canvas 52"x32"

Michael Harding whites
Becker's for the rest

http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/23-Sep-2003/15549-Tove_stood_up_small_2.jpg

http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/23-Sep-2003/15549-Tove_stood_up_detail.jpg


//matt

[Linoxyn]

Unity Matt. Unity is key to an idea such as this. Whether you achieve it through a reliance on tones, values, or the values within hues, unity will bring together the elements into a basic 'there it is vision'. Here's a quick edit, let me know what you think.

http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/23-Sep-2003/1985-toveedit.jpg

[Matt Sammekull]

So... where were you when you should have been in Sweden helping me out wit this???
That's some great changes Linoxyn... really great. And they don't see too monumental to fix either... back to the canvas...

I especially like how you brought the curtains to a higher contrast.. and the wall to a lower key. Seems so obvious as I see it now on my screen, and in the background I have a Jeff Buckley cd on... making me feel okay about the up-coming work.

Do you really see a need for such a low key for the young woman? To me, it feels like the curtains on her left should be just about the same level of contrast and light as Tove' back and dress. Am I wrong about this?

Jesus... there's so much depth in the version you cooked up..

Seriously, - thanks Linoxyn. You know how high I value your feedback and input. So if anything else comes to your mind, just tell me ok??

Again, thanks.

//matt

[kjsspot]

I prefer the lower keyed dress better. The other was distracting.

[Matt Sammekull]

KJO, - I just made some adjustments, and wow what a difference it made! Unfortunately, it's way too dark in my studio now, so I'll take some pictures tomorrow.

I thought more in "planes", (1) the room in which Tove stands, 2) the balcony and 3) the background, separating them from eachother) and made it more clear that she in fact almost appears as a silouhette... and the sky in the background got some more light !
I refined the curtains so they now seem more "alive".
Thanks for commenting!

//matt the painter

[artbabe21]

I too agree with the suggestions of Linoxyn...much more soothing...:)

we need you here Linoxyon...you add so much to this forum!!

[Matt Sammekull]

you add so much to this forum!!

I'll second that!!!

Cheers,

//matt

[guillot]

Well, for once (or errr, would that be twice :evil: ) I'm speechless. Breathtaking work Matt !!

I'll third that motion Linoxyn. So nice to have you visiting the forum again.

Tina

[KPowe]

Matt, my suggestion isn't about the paint. "Stood Up" is so negative. I would suggest something more positive. It's such a lovely painting and it shouldn't be negated even by its name. "Before the Dance" comes to mind.

[CarolChretien]

I didn't think she was sad until you mentioned being "stood up"...I thought she was just "waiting"...:)

The dress is improved with less competition with the drapes...as it has already been said...I love the luminosity the piece, Matt.

[Matt Sammekull]

Speechless Tina?? I would have thought it took a little bit more tan this?;) But ,yes, I am so much in love with the idea of this painting... the pose, the girl, the fact that it's mainly from life... I treasure it.

Many Roads, - that's a good title! But you know... I'm that melancholic guy... who finds so much more interest in sorrow and loss than joy and gain (in my paintings I should add!)

Thanks Joy!!!!

Here's an update;


http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/24-Sep-2003/15549-tove_update.jpg

Cheers,

//matt

[loop]

wow that made a huge difference Matt !! great job.....now about that left elbow :evil: I wish I could see it in person seeing as it is about life size... thanks for sharing

[nougat]

Fabulous Matt.

nadine

[Nicolart]

:clap: Matt...You capture light unbelievably...:clap:

:clap: :clap: BRAVO:clap: :clap:

:clap:

[artbabe21]

PERFECTO!!!!!!!:clap: :clap: :clap:

[Adrienne]

Matt,

I loved the first image of this painting, on the first thread. It left me speechless. That image stays with me, and I feel it always will. This one is a nice painting, but won't stay burned into my emotions the way the first will. That first image had such a lightness, despite its depth of emotion and sorrow. Great balance between light and shadow. It was an image of surpassing beauty and grace, but has now been lost, in my opinion.

For titles (and I can't help but think in terms of the 1st image on the 1st thread), I too see sorrow, either past or anticipated, or perhaps an old grief that remains part of her day, even when bathed in a partial light.

And it may be that her spirit reflects and refuses a portion of the light that would normally illuminate it, because of the pain in her heart. Yet, though she finds a way to reflect some light away from herself, we are drawn to her by the strength and truth of her character and her feelings, and she cannot hide her beauty from our eyes.

[Matt Sammekull]

Loop, Nadine, Nicole and Lady C, - thanks so much!!!!! It really means a lot to me.

Adrienne, I so appreciate your feelings... they are very human. We see something we like, and set our mind to it that it should forever stay like that.
Your entire post is great reading to me, and I'm flattered that you have such emotions toward this painting. To me, that's the best I could ever achieve in the craft of painting. Making someone feel...

Thanks a lot!!!!!

//matt

[Linoxyn]

Originally posted by Matt V
So... where were you when you should have been in Sweden helping me out wit this???

Do you really see a need for such a low key for the young woman? To me, it feels like the curtains on her left should be just about the same level of contrast and light as Tove' back and dress. Am I wrong about this?

Jesus... there's so much depth in the version you cooked up..

Seriously, - thanks Linoxyn.
//matt

No problem Matt :)

I'll have to take you up on that invite, that was an invite? ...the next time I visit close relatives in Denmark - since you're close by.

The curtains are so none constructed, which is perfectly fine for this piece, since the subject (correct me if I'm wrong) is about the light and the figure. I just took into account that light would be illuminating those entrance walls so I just left the curtains catching light to suggest those walls... giving more structure to the contrast of light and not necessarily to build form in the curtains. Tove's back I believe should take advantage of skin's reflective and iridescent qualities, that along with how we react to the contrast of an object against a bright sky... it makes sense to downplay the contrasts within the form. I could nit pick about other things... though you are learning by doing and you're doing fine.

Adrienne is right to enjoy the first image better because it was more a linear way of patterning light, colour and shapes - it was more like a jewel effect. A nice and valid effect to go after if that's the intention of the artist, though just like the facets in a jewel, as pretty as they are, there is no unity to a subject or theme that can be caught at one glance and have one's eyes rest on the unity created by a painting directed more by form and light. Both approaches are valid.

Thank you Cathleen and Tina (I'm always lurking :angel: ) for your kind words.