" La nonette" painting version.
 

I was interested to see if I could bring this further. It was an interesting experience.
I used my drawing like a preparatory sketch, so the main compositional challenges were yet resolved, but changing the medium makes a big difference of approach..

It's beautiful, Marina - those dark, cool woods are wonderfully mysterious and I like how they set off the skin tones of the girl.

wonderful

Marina--WOW! I love it! The color accentuates the fairy-tale archetypal quality. I feel the importance of what you are saying, but you say it totally without artifice or pretension. It's beautiful and moving. The idea that the little girl comes from those mysterious woods, the slight feeling of nervousness I get with the thought that the woods are behind her, is disconcerting because I would expect a little child to be on the other side of the wall from the woods, maybe looking into the woods. (At least that is the stereotype.) So this is the unexpected and strange quality. What does she know? It's intriguing because from this dark unknown emerges a child who is innocent in the sense that she is trusted by the bird. I could look at it a long time and wonder about it.

Thank you Linda,
I have read some threads about adding some of the background colors in the skin tones , but finally I did exactly the contrary : I added some skin and hair colors to the background, and it seems also to help the figure to integrate the atmosphere more harmoniously.

Claudemir, Thanks a lot!

Alex, I'm glad you like it !
I like the fact that it brings a lot of questions. I believe that when an artwork brings some aesthetic emotions, it's a good thing, but when it brings aesthetic emotions AND an intellectual process, it doubles the viewer's pleasure.

Marina, fabulous job. One could write a short story based on this painting.

Marina,

I just had to go back to your charcoal/Cond

Marina,

I am a big fan of your work and love how you manipulate the settings and poses to provide us with more than just the image of a beautiful child. Lovely, as usual!

Marina, I loved the drawing, and now am truly in love with this painting. Everyone has already mentioned the story aspect of this, and my immediate reaction was of the story behind it. Then it hit that it is also beautifully painted.

Jean

What a great idea! As you said, Marina, art that raises questions aesthetically, emotionally and intellectually holds an irresistible attraction for the viewer. It definitely hints at a story.

But on the other hand, maybe the unknown and the questions are more compelling than the answers. We can all look at it and invent our own stories.

Thanks Kenneth !
Someone knows a writer?

Richard,
I'm flattered that you spent so much time analyzing the drawing and the painting. The drawing was first created as a final piece. I always had in mind that one day I should try to make a painting from one of my charcoal-cont

Marina:
Your bird is freer than his:
http://www.artrenewal.org/asp/databa...ge.asp?id=2140

I'd like to know if it is the the true color for this Sargent.

Marina, an excellent painting. Don't be surprised if a publisher of children's books contacts you. I am so so happy for you as your dream is becoming a reality. The road of excellence has many rewards but lets not forget the master artist for giving us the gift of sight.

I wish you smooth sailings even when the sea is rough.

SB, great painting ! I didn't know it.
I think the story is quite different from mine. ( Even the girl looks in cage in her dress...)

Mischa ,
thanks for your philosophical comment !

Marina,

Now I don

Very good work, Marina. I am sure you'll continue to reap in the awards with this one.

Spectacular!!!

Carlos,
sorry I forgot to say it's 16" x20" ( oil on panel), the same dimension as the drawing. I was interrested to see where a change of medium would bring me.
I'm pretty sure the finished painting would have been very different if I didn't made the drawing first.
Thank you for your nice comment!

Thomasin and Michele,
thanks a lot!

If you were to enter this into the Portrait Society of America's competition, "the figure outdoors", I bet it would win. If you want to submit it, you can get an application on www.portraitsociety.org -- the deadline is Monday, December 3rd and I think you can send them a CD postmarked by that date to enter.

Thanks Michele for your wise advice !
In fact, I posted my CD last week, I hope they will be as enthousiasts as you :)

Marina,
I feel a bit like the Tit, looking at something great and mysterious.
This will definitely be a winner.

Thanks Allan,
yes, human beings (even the young ones) ARE great and mysterious.

Marina, your work continues to inspire me, thanks for sharing your spirit with us.

I can hear the birds singing in the back ground and a faint calling from the mother for the little girl to come inside before it gets late. She just wants to stay and be at one with it all, feel it, sense it, being in a place where time can stand still - nature at its best, she is so serene yet confident in her background. Well done!

This one is definitely a winner!

Thank you Sharon and Ngaire,
your support means a lot !