Vermeer is rolling over in his grave!!

[wet]

This is one of my all time favorite works. I hope it still is after I'm finished. I really need to get over this block so thought this is what I need. The only time I have attempted a human was in high school in acrilyics. It was a dismall failure and the teacher even told me to stop and start something else. So if this even ends up looking like a girl I will be thrilled. Just an exercise after all right? Will start tommorrow at my art club meeting. We meet at the local library at 10 and paint untill 3 so should get alot done. Not sure how I'm going to crop figure out tommorrow. Will post her progress and color swatches and crop when I get back. Deep breath can't believe I'm doing VERMEER! wanda

[pinkrybns]

Ah-ha! that explains the tremors I felt tonight.... (he's buried in Delft...LOL )

Hey wanda! Looking forward to seeing how this goes for you.

Just to let you know that I've seen the real painting and I can tell you this: in person it's amazingly flat, not as rich in color as the reproductions in books.
Even though you see the size listed, it's amazingly small in reality. That always strikes me as so weird, somehow.
The brushwork is also very visible on this painting... not as smooth as you may imagine and the "turban" had a feeling of not completely finished, I suppose the word I mean is "painterly". This is quite different than the other Vermeers - like the interiors or "The View of Delft", which is right across the room from "The Girl With the Pearl Earring", and is highly "polished/finished/detailed".

Having said all that, it's still a mysteriously beautiful piece.Talk about drooling all over the floor....

Good Luck with it!
~Judy

[wet]

Thanks for the info Judy I had a feeling you had visited this one. I love the way Vermeer uses light that's why I chose him. I hope to learn alot doing this already am off on the eyes and mouth. Portrait people are going to cringe! Wanted to concentrate on skin and shading. Couldn't wait for today so started last night. I'm going to need alot of help with the lips have NO idea how to do this. Animals don't have lips. 5x7 black vellum prismas. Might leave lips black and call her goth girl with the pearl earring. Hope to make progress today. Will post good or bad results . Hoping for the good.wanda

[Karen Cardinal]

Might leave lips black and call her goth girl with the pearl earring.

Hey... I like that idea! That would be alright wouldn't it Arlene?

Love your subject... and love your start! The first 10 or 12 layers always look "funny".

I'll be following this one!

[arlene]

did you do a white grisaille to start?

[paulmoser]

Originally Posted by arlene

did you do a white grisaille to start?

Yeah! And the background first...huh? ..did you?...hmmm?
paul

[Sue Irish]

Ya know Paul ... I noticed that too! I don't think that anyone that has tackled the Master's Project put in a background first. I think we all started right off with the foreground elements than pulled the backgrounds into place. Odd ... very, very odd.

Susan

[wet]

Sorry....started with a cream and cloud blue don't ask me why. Here is the colors I've worked out so far. I just noticed why I'm so drawn to this piece.....no back ground!! Am I in trouble? Sould I do something else? Don't hit me!! Got a little done this morning. I know her eyes are too big and I'm going to shave down her cheek. But I am excited she looks human! Lots more layers to go and haven't blended at all. Any help on lips?? wanda

[arlene]

I see i'm getting no slack here. Think I'll just head to warm weather tomorrow and let you two suffer in frigid weather. Think of me while I'm walking around in a light sweater and sandels.

[MsLilypond]

This is one of my favorite pieces from Vermeer, I think you're doing a wonderful job!

[pencils4me]

Hey Wanda hang in there! Your dong beautifully. I think her eyes are beautifully haunting.

lips are the same as any other feature! highlights, shadows, reflected light, and not red! usually less is more with lips... check the shape of the bottom compared to the top.

looking very good! I think your off to do more people in the future

TJ

[pinkrybns]

Originally Posted by Sue Irish

Ya know Paul ... I noticed that too! I don't think that anyone that has tackled the Master's Project put in a background first. I think we all started right off with the foreground elements than pulled the backgrounds into place. Odd ... very, very odd.

Susan

Raises hand politely....
I did start my background first...didn't finish all of it, but certainly chose those colors first and started the first few layers nearest to the face.

Wanda, this is looking super! Be careful with the lips, like T.J. suggested...she has full ones, but not "Bouguereau Bee Stung/Rosy Rossetti/Collogen Injected" lips... and not bright!

Oh, and there is indeed a background in this painting, no detail, but definitely a color and it sure affects the rest. Yes, indeedy! Arlene is correct whether we want to face the truth or not. In real life it's an interesting muted greyish-greenish-blueish color, and it's there, brushstrokes and all.

Enjoy your trip arlene!

~Judy

[Meisie]

oooooooo nice choice! I'm staying tuned!
Interesting info Judy!. My theory is that the backgrounds get postponed, because it is already 'there', not something perceived as needing to be placed.
Meisie (who has the answers because she hasn't done this yet )

[wet]

Judy really background??? Sometimes ignorance IS bliss!! Okay now Vermeers girl looks sultry you know that "hi big boy" look and mine....more like she doesn't have a thought in her head!!! Totally butchered the mouth so I'm moving on to the clothes. But I am having fun!! Thanks so much for all and any comments or HELP! wanda

[pinkrybns]

Originally Posted by wet

But I am having fun!!

Which is, of course, equally important!