Girl Reading by Fragonard

[vonorloff]

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Here I have attempted to learn from the master, Fragonard, by copying one of my favorite of his works.

It's not finished yet, and I doubt it ever will be. I just cant get into it ... his style is just not mine, I suppose.

But I love his version, just the same.

(I posted this painting a few weeks ago under 'most inspirational' and mentioned then that I had made a usefull exercise of copying it)


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VonOrloff

"...all I thought of was making my colors sing, without paying any heed to rules and regulations"
Henri Matisse

[bruin70]

the idea is to learn from the experience...{M}

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"it's alright to be judgmental,,,,,,,,if you have taste"...MILT

[vonorloff]

Yes.
Learn from the experience.
Good advice.

By the way, Milt, you were speaking on another forum about something along the lines of procedures, I believe, or stages for building a portrait.
I think you mentioned something about doing a study in three tonalities ... I wonder if you will elaborate on that here?

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VonOrloff

"...all I thought of was making my colors sing, without paying any heed to rules and regulations"
Henri Matisse

[beauxman]

Von, I guess you and I like the same stuff.

I just finished a copy of JHF's "Young Girl..." last week. Have you been to the NGA to see it? It's alla prima to a "t". Legend has it he painted it in about one hour as a demonstration piece for one of his students. I've actually tried a couple of smaller parts of the painting before, couldn't get the brushstroke to stand like his did though...not till I thought to try it using Maroger. The Maroger really is the ticket for this type of work.

I sure learned a lot and it was fun. Here 'tis:
<IMG SRC="http://www.wetcanvas.com/Critiques/lib/09-Feb-2001/bomanFrag2.jpg" border=0>


[This message has been edited by beauxman (edited February 09, 2001).]

[This message has been edited by beauxman (edited February 09, 2001).]

[vonorloff]

Originally posted by beauxman:
Von, I guess you and I like the same stuff.

I just finished a copy of JHF's "Young Girl..." last week. Have you been to the NGA to see it? It's alla prima to a "t". Legend has it he painted it in about one hour as a demonstration piece for one of his students. I've actually tried a couple of smaller parts of the painting before, couldn't get the brushstroke to stand like his did though...not till I thought to try it using Maroger. The Maroger really is the ticket for this type of work.

I sure learned a lot and it was fun. Here 'tis:
<IMG SRC="http://www.wetcanvas.com/Critiques/lib/09-Feb-2001/bomanFrag2.jpg" border=0>


[This message has been edited by beauxman (edited February 09, 2001).]

[This message has been edited by beauxman (edited February 09, 2001).]


Yes, Ive seen this painting many times at the National Gallery of Art. I was talking to a guard near it last time, and he was telling me that it does have a note on the back, by Fragonard, saying something like, "Painted by Frago in two hours" (he evidently called himself Frago, I think that's neat).

The subtle shadding and translucent colors in the face, and her gentle expression were the hardest elements to equal, for me. And as you can see, I fell short of doing so. But yes, a great little training exercise.




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VonOrloff

"...all I thought of was making my colors sing, without paying any heed to rules and regulations"
Henri Matisse

[beauxman]

When I first saw this painting at the NGA (from a distance) I thought it was an unfinished painting. When I looked up close though I began to notice the whole thing looked to be done at once. It really openned my mind up to the idea of using an economy of means. The more you look at the painting the more you notice how utterly simple it is. I think that painting like this takes a clear vision of how you want the image to look before you ever put a brush to canvas. That's one of the biggest lessons I took from Mr. Fragonard.

I think my next copy will be by Fragonard's teacher: Boucher's "Allegory of Painting"

[billyg]

Hey Guys,
Heres my copy I posted last year, I was cheeky and changed his hands a little but loved getting those colours.Now on loan by request (after she saw it at our club show)in a local sculptresses shop as she says it warms the whole place up.
Next one Im looking at is "Russian Tea" by Irving Ramsey Wiles. good excercise in reflective surfaces.
Great fun even though hard work.
Billyg http://www.wetcanvas.com/ubb/biggrin.gif http://www.wetcanvas.com/ubb/biggrin.gif

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